Crawley Town are on the lookout for a new striker and are set to rival Stevenage for the signature of Bradford City striker Jake Young who excelled on loan at Swindon Town in the fourth-tier last season, scoring 16 goals before being recalled in January.
The 23-year-old was a regular feature from the bench in Forest Green Rovers’ League Two title win in 2021/22, scoring three goals and has represented Barrow in the fourth tier after an unproductive loan spell in 2022/23 yielded just five starts and no goals.
Swindon Town Spell Displays Forward Ready For Step-Up
It would have surprised those who had followed Jake Young’s career to witness his exploits on loan under Michael Flynn at Swindon Town. His 16 goals and four assists came from just 22 starts and 25 appearances in total for the League Two side.
Jake Young had previously been a goal threat but had never come close to achieving the numbers he managed at Swindon Town. He had admirably played the role of an impact player from the bench. In the season before Forest Green’s title triumph, he was a pivotal squad player as Rovers reached the play-offs and Young scored six goals, four of which were match-winning strikers.
His total last season was all the more impressive considering he did not take penalties and of all strikers with more than 10 appearances, his average of 0.5 goals per game from open play was top of the charts. It was no surprise that Bradford City recalled him in January but he made just four appearances for the Bantams with 33-year-old Andy Cook’s all-round game preferred.
After Bradford finished the season in excellent form, Cook scored 17 goals and provided eight assists as the club narrowly missed out on a play-off place. Graham Alexander’s side won five of their last six games, collecting 16 points in that period and missing out on a seventh-place finish by a single point. Former Blackburn Rovers manager Mark Hughes led Bradford to the play-offs in 2022/23, where they were beaten by Carlisle United in the semi-finals.
Crawley Town Require Additions to Replace Key Departures
League Two play-off winners Crawley Town are battling Stevenage for the services of Jake Young according to Alan Nixon, who has insisted that Bradford City are willing to sell if they receive an appropriate offer, with the player keen on testing himself in the third-tier.
Crawley Town are on the lookout to replace the goals of Danilo Orsi and Klaidi Lolos, who have departed for league rivals Burton Albion and Bolton Wanderers respectively. The duo scored 36 league goals between them last season, with no other player getting into double figures for league goals last season. Adam Campbell was next on seven goals and he has joined National League side Hartlepool United.
Scott Lindsey has added former Swindon Town forward Rushian Hepburn-Murphy in a bid to refresh options in forward areas. The 25-year-old scored 12 goals in 52 appearances for the Robins over the last two seasons. Max Anderson has arrived from Dundee FC and is a goal threat from midfield.
Former Waterford player Junior Quitirna is a versatile forward who has arrived from Fleetwood Town and should turn out to be an effective signing but the manager must realise that they will need further firepower if they are to avoid an instant return to League Two.
Signing a player such as Jake Young would be ideal as the striker’s game is primarily about scoring goals, although he has yet to test himself in the third tier. If he is available for an appropriate fee, Crawley Town might have just found a replacement for the goals of the departure Orsi.