The Shopping List: Wingers

Some targets Coventry could & should be looking at. You can thank me later Dean Austin

Jun 08, 2025

The Wings

I feel like the recruitment for wide positions is going to be the most interesting this summer. In other positions (MVE, Sheaf & Rudoni) recruitment will depend on, and be funded by outgoings, on the wings it’s less so.

It’s an area that felt pretty well stocked at the start of the season. EMC and Wright for the left, Tats and Raphael for the right, with BTA and Rudoni able to play out wide where required. This wasn’t the case, with the Sky Blues reverting to wing-backs due to a dearth of wide options. EMC and Wright both had injuries, with the American also often playing CF due to the struggles of Simms. Sakamoto took time to recover from last seasons injury, only approaching his best in the Spring. Raphael appears short of the mark. BTA had a limited impact, especially when out-wide. So here are some players we should be looking at.

Sondre Ørjasæter is a right-footed left-winger who plays for Victor Torp’s former club Sarpsborg 08. Heavily linked with Celtic in January, the Norwegian U21 International is super technical, and different in profile in what we have currently have. Whilst EMC and Wright thrive at the end of moves, Ørjasæter is more a creator.

The 21 year-old is more inverted winger than inside forward. Excellent ball carrier and dribbler, strong in tight areas, with an eye for a pass and a cross. Doesn’t shirk his defensive responsibilities either (6 duels won and 4 recoveries per 90 is excellent). Transfermarkt suggest a €6million value (which I think is on the high side), and a contract until 2028,

Filip Krastev is currently on loan at Gustavo Hamer’s former stomping ground, PEC Zwolle. The 23 year old has already amassed 23 caps for Bulgaria. He’s another technical dribbler who has got through masses of defensive work too, 10 defensive actions per 90 is off the charts for a winger.

It’s worth noting his data is from a mid-table side that hasn’t seen a high amount of the ball. Under contract at Lommel to 2027, with an approx value of €4millions. Check out the footage below of him downing PSV earlier this season

Abdoulie Manneh, is a 20 year old Gambian currently setting Allsvenskan alight at Mjallby. Has taken a big step forward this season with 6 goals and 2 assists in 13 starts. He’s an inside-forward / striker hybrid, his goals all coming from shots taken from between the width of the posts. An 87% pass completion rate so high up the pitch really catches the eye. It’s very hard to put a financial value on him at this point, as he’s just breaking through, and he’s the sort that’d need to be treated as a bit of a project.

Serginho and Isak Steiner Jensen will both have suitors having impressed off both wings for Viborg in Denmark.

There’s plenty already known about Benjamin Nygren of Nordsjælland. 35 goals in 107 appearances tells you plenty about the highly sought after Swedish international. It’d be a chunky fee for the left-footer who’s at his best off the right. Anderlecht continue to be linked.

There is much less known about 24 year old Nigerian Bamidele Yusuf, who can play anywhere across the front three.

Currently playing for Vojvodina in Serbia, he’s an out and out ball carrier. Of course its difficult to gauge how form in the Serbian league would translate, but his performances against Ajax in the early rounds of the Europa League (was fouled 6 times in two legs) were particularly promising.

Abubaker Ghali is another 24 year old Nigerian, currently playing in the Czech League who has previously linked. Ghali is an old school, right-footed, right-winger, who looks to get to the by-line and cross. Doesn’t shirk his defensive work either and has at times been deployed as a RWB.

Go Ahead Eagles Finnish international Oliver Antman is another interesting profile, having just contributed 6 goals and 15 (fifteen!) assists in Eredivisie, mostly off the right. Fantastic creative numbers, not as strong defensively.

Westerlo’s Griffin Yow, had made USA squads but isn’t capped yet. He’s diminutive (5ft6) but scores goals (0.31 xG per 90), completes dribbles (1.9 per 90) and really gets stuck in (1.8 tackles per 90). Left-footer who can play either side. Parfait Guaigon is another diminutive type who catches the eye in the same division, the Ivorian impressed in Israel before getting his move to Sporting Charleroi.

Recruiting variety for the wide positions for next season will be really important. Sakamoto has had no competition, and although very technical and hard working, lacks the athletic capabilities to make an impact in games where he needs to ball carry. EMC (and at times Wright) is extremely dangerous when given the space to explore / cut inside, but can lack the tight technical dribbling to go past a man when teams sit deep.

You can find my articles about GK/full-back recruitment, CB, CM & CAM recruitment below.