Wilshere not hunting a target man as he expects 'crazy' end to transfer window

Although Luton boss Jack Wilshere is anticipating a ‘crazy’ end to the transfer window, he doesn’t believe that the Hatters are lacking a target man to lead their attack this term.

Going into the campaign, Town have Nahki Wells, who opened his account for the new season at Gillingham in the Carabao Cup, while there are big things expected from summer signing Callum Marshall, the Northern Ireland joining for an undisclosed fee from West Ham United. Devante Cole is still an option too, with both Jerry Yates and Lasse Nordas allowed to look for new clubs, as although Town’s squad looks well stocked for attacking options, the one thing missing could be some extra height up front, especially if Luton are in the position where they are chasing a game.

However, Wilshere doesn’t think that is the case, as quizzed about that today, he said: “A target man, no, I look at all of our nines and I think we have a good mix. I don’t think Nahki is necessarily a big target man, but I think he does really well when the ball’s played into him, getting his bump in early, he’s experienced in that, not always necessarily winning it, but making it really difficult for the centre back just to clear it and then we can land on seconds. Then Callum brings us something different, so no, I wouldn’t say we’re missing a target man.

“Kasey’s a threat from that stuff, he scored some headers last year and listen, there’ll always be that case, but one of the reflections from last year as well, when we are chasing a game, having the ability from the bench to change it, but change the profile in the position, and be even more clear with what we’re trying to do from the start.

"Last year there were times where we changed a 3-4-3 and put two up top and don’t get me wrong, of course there’ll be times where we’ll have to do that and we’ll get a feeling that is the right thing to do. But I think probably in general if we’re going to change things, it will be even more show our identity, so I think we’re okay and if not we’ll put Mads (Andersen) up top.”

Another area that Wilshere was asked whether he was looking to strengthen, was the left back role, but with Kal Naismith, Joe Johnson, Harry Fox and also George Johnston as an option, he feels they are covered, continuing: “We certainly don’t need numbers, that’s for sure. I don’t see Benny (Benagr) really playing there, as if anything Benny’s a left winger in my opinion. If he was to play a little bit low, it would probably be as a left wingback, but we don’t play with wingbacks at the moment, so I don’t see Benny as that.

"However, I see Kal there, I see Joe Johnson there, I see Harry Fox has come in and we’ve got an important period with Harry, as I don’t want him to be caught in a situation where he’s just training and he’s not getting the games he needs to develop, as he’s a really good player and he’s got a really good future here with us.

"George Johnston is a centre back, he’s a very good centre back, but also can play left back, so I don’t think we need numbers, but let’s see, let’s see what happens over the next 10 or so days. When you do have really good young players in there, people will be interested in them, so we’re working and we’re prepared for everything. We also look at every position to try and strengthen when we can and when we need to, and at the moment, I don’t think we need to.”

Having made five additions over the summer, Kasey Palmer, Harrison Ashby and Emilio Lawrence joining Johnston and Marshall, then with a number of squad places still yet to be filled, asked about the chances of any further business being done before the window closes at 11pm on Tuesday, September 1, Wilshere said: “We’re working, we’re not closer to anything else, and it’s been quite quiet since Emilio walked through the door.

"This is my first proper window, but from looking the outside in over the years and being involved in it as a player, probably after this weekend it will start to go a little bit crazy and players will start moving. We just have to be ready for that and we’ve prepared really well throughout the whole window, so we’re working, but we’re not close to anything.”

The boss is still looking to shift some players too, Reuell Walters, Thomas Holmes and Teden Mengi joining Yates and Nordas in being allowed to look for new employers, as he added: “Of course, we have to work together with the players and that’s why we started that process at the end of last season.

"I sat down with the ones that I thought needed to move on, we spoke, we had an honest conversation, I got their feelings, but all that being said, everything has to be aligned. A club has to come in, they have to be at the right valuation, and the player also has to feel that as well. So everything has to be aligned and we wanted to make that clear from the start.”