Following the deadline day drama that surrounded the Kabongo Tshimanga move to Birmingham City (which ultimately fell through), I decided to look at 10 other talents from the National League that I feel EFL clubs should consider in January. The National League has such a rich talent pool, and these 10 could represent great pieces of business, especially considering the price tags associated with them.
Kyran Lofthouse
I’ve been a long term admirer of 21 year old Lofthouse, and this season the Woking man has really kicked on, adding a new attacking facet to his game. Lofthouse was primarily deployed as a full back last season, but Darren Sarll pushed Lofthouse into midfield this season, with Lofthouse maintaining his wide right position but in a far more advanced role. Lofthouse showcased his improved attacking talents, netting a brace from his new role against Scunthorpe. He also plays 2.99 crosses per 90, a decent output, and for a side playing a more traditional flat 4 across midfield he would be the perfect fit, balancing defence with attack. Not only is he a superb athlete, but he also has plenty of upside and the fact he possesses versatility makes him an even more intriguing option for an EFL side.
Dan Mooney
A pick that will make Off The Line Blog smile, Dan Mooney may have only joined the Blues this summer, but he’s already established himself as a key man, hardly a surprise to anyone who watched him at Altrincham last season. Mooney netted 12 goals from midfield last term, and this season he already has a goal and 3 assists, showing how well he would adapt to a new side. Southend have had mixed fortunes so far, and if they continue he might be a purchaseable asset come January. Mooney is creative, but also has an eye for goal, something he can do drifting in from the right onto his stronger left foot, or playing just off of a main striker. Crucially, Mooney is just 23, so certainly has plenty of room to grow and develop. The EFL is definitely in Mooney’s future, it just depends on how soon that is.
Ryan De Havilland
He may be currently out injured, but Barnet midfielder De Havilland is one of the divisions finest young talents, and at 21 he has the potential to really go far. Another member of Barnet’s midfield, Ephron Mason-Clark, made his way into the EFL this summer, and I don’t think it’ll be long before De Havilland follows suit. Unlike the other goalscoring midfielder options on the list, De Havilland plays slightly deeper, in a more conventional central midfield role. This doesn’t stop him contributing though, with 2 goals and assist to his name in just 5 matches. He does need to work on the defensive side of his game, with the Bees midfielder winning just 57.69% of his defensive duels, but at just 21 he’s still raw, and has time to improve. I feel he has the ability to slot into an EFL midfield really well.
Maxim Kouogun
Perhaps a surprise inclusion on this list is 25 year old defender Kouogun, but the Irish-Cameroonian has been on my radar for some time, and has certainly made quite the impression so far this campaign. York City, the side he currently plays for, signed 16 players this summer, so perhaps the biggest compliment to Kouogun is that he managed to retain his place in a largely changed side. A defender who is just 6ft tall, Kouogun is strong and quick, and is also imperious defensively. In fact, he has been involved in the 4th most defensive duels, 63, 77.78% of which he has won. This shows how much of a resolute defender he is, and if an EFL outfit are looking for a dependable defender, they could do worse than the former Shelbourne man.
Joe Sbarra
This man may have just signed a new contract, but I genuinely believe he would be worth every penny of an inflated transfer value. He was voted Young Player of the Season for the whole league last year, and for good reason, racking up 18 goals from midfield, an unbelievable return. He’s already got 2 goals this season, and at just 23 he has so much upside that a league move seems almost inevitable. Sbarra is a joy to watch; he may be just 5ft6, but his low centre of gravity allow him to retain the ball, and he is the chief creative outlet in a very attacking Solihull side. He has superb technique, and reads the game so well he is often several steps ahead. He also offers any potential suitors tactical flexibility, as he is equally adept at operating in a central role, or off the left drifting in. He is so well versed in fact that he is able to switch seamlessly between the two during games, and with 6 key passes already played this season (2nd most in the league) he is already showing his quality.
Louis Lomas
Another Blues player, and another one that was added this summer, I genuinely believe that Louis Lomas is destined to play in the upper echelons of the Football League. At just 21 years old, Lomas has tremendous potential, and he has already established himself as a top non-league defender, playing a crucial role in a Brackley Town defence that conceded just 23 goals. He’s also proved he’s capable of stepping up, as he has quickly acquitted himself to the new level, leading Southend’s defence. Lomas has won a massive 84.62% of his defensive duels, the 2nd highest in the league, showing just how dominant he is at the back. He’s also 10th for progressive passes per 90 (12.86), showing he is class on the ball as well as defensively. He may cost a lot, but he would be worth it; there aren’t many finer defenders for his age.
Paul McCallum
The oldest entry on this list at 29, if any EFL sides are struggling for goals and need to look for a proven goalscorer, they could do a lot worse than Dagenham’s Paul McCallum. A striker who already has 3 goals to his name this season, McCallum is already on track to beat his 18 goal return last season. In fact, McCallum’s record at this level is astounding; he’s netted 34 over his last two season’s for Dagenham, and he netted 28 goals for an Eastleigh side who ended with a -1 goal difference that season. McCallum is 6ft3, possesses a fierce strike, brute strength and is aerially dominant; however, McCallum is much more than that. A sophisticated target man, who is equally adept at flicking the ball on as he is at bringing it down, all of Dagenham’s play goes through him. He has been involved in more aerial duels than any other player this season (137, 39 more than second place), underlining how crucial he is to their build up. He would probably cost a fair bit, but he guarantees goals and would be worth a risk for a struggling EFL side.
Ruben Rodrigues
Could there be an EFL ready National League players list without this man on it? The Portuguese forward is a contender for best player in the league, and the links to League One are understandable due to his quality. Rodrigues is a superb creator, but also has an eye for goal, contributing 26 goals and assists last season. Rodrigues best attribute though is his dribbling; he has such variation to his dribbling game, and it’s a joy to watch. Rodrigues is able to beat a man, show flair, retain the ball in tight spaces and also draw a foul when necessary. He also has that rare ability to rise to the big occasions, and at times he genuinely looks levels above the National League; in short, he makes it look easy. You only need to look as far as the pre season game against Nottingham Forest, where Rodrigues dominated. He’s already played 6 key passes this season in 5 appearances, and he has also played 6 smart passes, the most in the division. Rodrigues also has the highest % completed for progressive passes of any outfield player, at 91.43%, and the list does go on in terms of impressive stats. Rodrigues has just 6 months left on his contract, so is able to walk for free come the end of the season, but should a League One/Championship team put in a substantial bid in January, Notts may be forced to sell.
So there are 8 players I’d consider ready for an EFL jump up. Of course they are all at various levels, but I believe they all have some value to offer Football League sides. Truthfully, I’ve only really scratched the surface with this 8, so depending on the reception to this one I could look at other players in the future. Missed your pick? Let me know in the comments below
xN: Expected Nonsense 