‘Strong core’ – Johnnie Jackson on summer transfer window plans for AFC Wimbledon
AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson wants to build “a strong core” down the middle of his side over the upcoming summer transfer window.
The Dons finished 21st in the League Two table and just five points clear of the relegation zone.
George Marsh, Luke Jenkins, Dylan Adjei-Hersey, Elliott Bolton, Aaron Cosgrave, David Fisher and Kwaku Frimpong have all been released.
Ethan Chislett and Aaron Pierre have both been offered new deals.
“We need to build a real strong core down the middle of our team,” Jackson told the South London Press, looking ahead to plans in the summer window.
“You need a lot of physicality at this level. If you look at a lot of the teams at the top, they’re strong teams with pace and athleticism.
“That’s really important. We have to look at those types, but you need guile at the top end of the pitch.
“You need creativity as well, so we will be looking at options. How are we going to score the 60 or 70 goals that we need to get in the mix?
“We already have two good forwards in the building in Josh Davison and Ali Al-Hamadi.
“We have goals in the team, but we need to add more. We need to be smart in the loan window and learn the lessons from the last window, where, if we take loanees and they’re called back, it’s not gutting our team.”
Regular first-choice goalkeeper Nik Tzanev dropped out of the side for the final two games of the season, with 21-year-old Nathan Broome coming in for the draw with Tranmere and the defeat at Grimsby.
“We have two good goalkeepers under contract,” said Jackson.
“It will be down to them guys – how they come back and train in pre-season.
“They will be fighting it out for the shirt.”
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