Crewe Alex Summer 2025 Transfer Targets

Crewe Alex announced their retained list yesterday ahead of their preparations for the 2025-26 League Two season. There weren't many surprises and a fair few questions still remain, but what the list did tell us was where they will likely need help in the transfer market. By my reckoning, they need help at goalkeeper, right back, left back, CB, CM, winger and striker. So, basically everywhere. Well, I went through the leagues to find some realistic possibilities the Alex could sign. Here are 30 names they could be in for over the coming weeks and months:

Goalkeeper

Matt Young - Sunderland(Loan)

Here we go again, targeting more temporary fixes in goal despite them crying out for a long term one. But if they do go down the loan route once again, I'd be looking at the 18-year-old Sunderland stopper. He's very young, but he's already for EFL experience with Salford, so he's got a bit of game time behind him. He'll likely have interest from elsewhere, but if the Alex can offer him consistent first team football, I think he'd be a decent addition.

Paul Farman - Barrow(Free Agent)

From one end of the scale to the other. Farman is getting up there in age, but he's a vastly experienced keeper and a durable one at that. He's racked up 540 career appearances and has left Barrow after slipped to number 2 behind Will Stanway since Andy Whing became boss. It would be unlike the Alex to sign a permanent keeper from outside the club, but if they did, he could be a gettable option.

Mark Howard - Wrexham(Free Agent)

Another older player, but it could be exactly what they need. At 38, I doubt he'll be flooded with offers and whilst he'd likely only be good for 1, maybe 2 seasons at best, his 400+ career appearances would be a welcome addition and he'd probably be relatively ok if Booth beat him out for the number 1 job.

Right Back

Luke Bolton - Wrexham(Loan)

This one is probably unrealistic due to wage demands. Plus I'd imagine if word got out that he was available, Salford and plenty of other higher paying clubs would be in like a shot for him. But for me, I'd love him at the Alex. He could play both RB, RWB and even RW is asked, so his pace, skill and versatility would be a big plus. He's my dream target to come in and be a starter every week on the right hand side.

Tom Sang - Port Vale(Free Agent)

I really liked the look of Sang when he came to Gresty Road earlier in the season. He's a most durable player and can operate across a variety of spots, including RB, RWB, CB and CM. With him being released by the Vale, he could be within their price range.

Brandon Cover - Leicester City(Loan)

He's already had 2 solid spells in L2 with Port Vale and Fleetwood this season, so a third might not be to his or Leicester's liking. But he's proven himself to be a capable attack minded player who has more than enough physicality for the position. I'd prefer a long term solution, but filling this spot with a loanee might be the better choice.

RCB

Sam Lavelle - Carlisle United(Free Agent)

The Alex are going to need CB help next season. If Zac Williams moves on, as hopefully he does, with Jamie Knight-Lebel and Connor O'Riordan returning to their parent clubs, they'll only have Mickey Demetriou and James Connolly as senior defenders with league appearances to their name. Even factoring in Nathan Robinson and possibly Stan Dancey, they need an experienced option to lessen the pressure on Demetriou, who is starting to break down with injuries and could possibly be asked to step in as interim manager should Bell be sacked at any stage.

Lavelle for me would be perfect to bring in to add more experience and leadership to this team. From the North West, he's 28 and has 250 appearances to his name. He's durable, can pop up with a goal or two and is likely to leave the Cumbrians after their relegation. I think he would be perfect to bring in. A 5 man CB group of Demetriou, Lavelle, Connolly, Robinson and Dancey would be a nice blend of experience and potential.

Ben Heneghan - Port Vale(Transfer Fee/Loan)

Heneghan was an option I wanted the Alex to look at 12 months ago, but he ended up going to the Vale. However, with him likely falling down the pecking order at Vale Park following their promotion, they might be looking to find him a new home. And if they did, I'd happily take him at the Alex.

Sam Stubbs - Bradford City(Free Agent)

After a strong L2 season on loan at Cheltenham, I doubt the Alex can pick him up. But he's from the North West and knows the club having been on loan several seasons back. He would tick all the boxes. He has plenty of experience, still has age on his side and would complement their defensive group nicely.

Max Ehmer - Gillingham(Free Agent)

I'm very hesitant to even suggest this one, but he would tick several boxes, even if his age is a little off putting. I suspect he'll find a club who can offer him more money and there has to be a worry that his best days are behind him, given he's just been released by a team that finished below the Alex. Still, a 1 year gamble might be worth it.

Left Back

Patrick Brough - Northampton(Free Agent)

He's been very unlucky with a leg break this season, but that aside, he's been an incredibly durable player, starting 37 or more games in the last 4 seasons before 24-25. He's from the North West, so a move back closer to home might be an option. If he can pass a medical and they are satisfied he's fully recovered, I think he'd be a really good option to bring in on the left hand side. Northampton have invited him back for pre-season training, but if the Alex put a concrete offer on the table, he could be tempted.

Anthony Driscoll-Glennon - Newport County(Free Agent)

He was a name I mentioned 12 months ago, but injury issues worried me. He's thankfully gotten over those at Newport, starting 32 times and being a sub in 5 more this season. He's proven a more than adept creator down the Exiles left hand side, with 8 assists to his name. He hails from Liverpool, so a move back close to his north west hometown could appeal to him if the Alex brought him in and promised him the starting LB slot.

Adam Lewis - Morecambe(Free Agent)

Another scouser who could on the radar is Adam Lewis, currently at Morecambe. Like Driscoll-Glennon, he's overcome injury issues to be a creative force down the Shrimps left hand side, operating as both a left back and left wing back. Ok, he's only managed 1 goal and 5 assists and he has question marks defensively, but he can operate at various left hand side spots. He only signed a 1 year deal last summer, so the security of a 2 year deal could be more than enough to entice him to join the Alex and move slightly closer to home.

Rio Adebisi - Peterborough(Loan)

I know, I know. Getting back a former player doesn't lead to good outcomes. But Adebisi had a torrid 24-25 with Peterborough, going from one long term injury to another. He desperately needs games to build his fitness back up and he proved in 23-24 with the Alex that he can be a very durable player, given he played every game in that season. He can score, he can create, he has pace. He'd be the number 1 target were Posh to loan him out and the only thing against him would be that he's a former player. But if he wanted to come on loan to build up his fitness, I'd happily take him.

Cohan Bramall - Portsmouth(Free Agent)

This one would carry risks. He's struggled to play many games in recent seasons and he's 29, but he's from the local area and convincing him to move closer to home might not be that difficult. What would be difficult is that he surely considers himself above L2 football. But if he was willing to come for a cheap price, then I think they could do a lot worse.

Central Midfield

Tommy Leigh - Bradford City(Loan)

The Alex desperately need a more ability in the middle of the pitch, both creatively and in goal scoring. A Joe White type if you will. I wonder if Leigh could fit the bill? I know he's only just moved to Bradford in January, but things haven't worked out too well, as he's struggled to hold down a spot in their team. Even in spite of his struggles in 24-25 with MK Dons and the Bantams, he's still a goalscoring and creative force. He scored 28 goals across 3 seasons for Accrington, so a move to a smaller club with less expectations might be to his liking.

Kian Spence - Barrow(Free Agent)

Spence would be a tough get, but he's out of contract with Barrow and his stats over the last 2 seasons with Cumbrian side are impressive. 14 goals and 7 assists are nothing to shrug at and given he doesn't turn 25 until January, he still has age on his side. He's had injury issues this season which are a concern, but he did play 45 times in 23-24, so if he can stay healthy, he can be a great pick up.

Danny Mayor - Fleetwood Town(Free Agent)

He's getting on a bit now and it would be risky to add another 30+ player in midfield alongside Thomas and Powell, but he would add creativity, given he's made 9 big chances this season in 39 appearances. As a rotational player who could start 20-30 games and come off the bench in the rest, he would be a nice pick up I think.

Matty Daly - Harrogate Town(Free Agent)

Daly is a player I really like, but he's struggled badly with injuries this season. However, when fit he's a very productive player. In 23-24, he played 40 times and put up 15 goal contributions(6 goals, 9 assists). If he can pass a medical and stay fit, he's likely to give you 10 goal contributions. But the questions about his fitness issues this season would need answering.

Wingers

Jack Nolan - Gillingham(Loan/Permanent)

Nolan would be my top target. Things haven't worked out for him at all at Gillingham. But his 23-24 season showed that if used properly, he has superb creativity. He put up 8 assists, 10 open play goals and created 13 big chances. Even in a terrible Gills team this season he has 6 big chances created. Him and Lankester alongside each other would be a fearsome creative duo next season.

Ben Whitfield - Burton Albion(Loan/Permanent)

Getting him would be tricky. Burton might want to keep him and reintegrate him next season. But if they make him available and he doesn't go straight back to Barrow, the Alex could be an attractive option for him. This season, he put up 2 goals and 5 assists with Barrow on loan, in just 16 matches as well. This shows he's a decent player at this level and would add much needed creativity to a group badly lacking in it.

Carlos Mendes Gomez - Bolton Wanderers(Loan)

He might be tough to snag, but he's fallen out of favour at Bolton and whilst he still has a year left on his deal, he was superb with Morecambe when he last played at this level, with 18 goals scored. Dropping back to L2 could see him bounce back form wise. You want pace, he'd give you that in spades and would hopefully bring the productivity to back it up.

Josh Hawkes - Tranmere(Free Agent)

Hawkes has had 4 fairly productive seasons with Tranmere, putting up 24 goals and 11 assists. He's proven himself fairly durable and he's capable of playing in a variety of different attacking positions. Should he want a fresh challenge, the Alex could offer him that.

Jayden Clarke - Gillingham(Free Agent)

His release is a curious one. He was the only Gills player to look like scoring during much of the first half of this season and he finished the season with 7 goals to his name, in a woeful Gills team attack wise. He's 24, so still has room to improve, but does his release point to underlying personality/off field issues? He'd be a risk, but his record says he knows where the goal is.

Striker

Chris Conn-Clarke - Peterborough(Loan)

Conn-Clarke was hot property 12 months ago after a superb season with Altrincham in the National League. Like Adebisi, his move to the posh hasn't gone so well. A full season out on loan in L2 might be the making of him. It's a risk given he's unproven, but I could see it working out.

Emre Tezgel - Stoke(Loan)

He was rumoured to have been on the radar back in January but the Alex never made a move. He has a superb scoring record in the U23s level of football, but has yet to really prove himself at the senior level. I suspect Stoke might want him to play higher, but if the Alex can convince them he'd come in and be a regular starter, that might be preferable.

However, if I was the Alex that brought him in, I'd want a cast iron guarantee that they won't recall him as they did Nathan Lowe with Walsall.

Michael Mellon - Burnley(Loan)

He only has 1 good season(or half season) of scoring under his belt, so he'd be a risk. But if he can rediscover the form which he showed during the first half of the 23-24 season with Morecambe, he'd be an excellent player to have. However, the recall risk, as we saw when Burnley recalled him, is very real. Which makes this a big risk.

Aaron Pressley - Stevenage(Free Agent)

There is a lot to like about Pressley. He's a giant of a striker, always a useful trait in L2. His goal return is fairly ho hum, but he doesn't turn 24 until November. With a bit of polishing, he could easily bag somewhere in the region of 8-10 goals you feel.

David Adu-Adjei - Bournemouth(Loan)

This one would be a big gamble I admit. He's had fairly underwhelming loan spells with both Leyton Orient and Carlisle. But he's scored a lot in the U23s level of football, which I know doesn't mean a lot, but put him into a team that gives him service and I do think he could bag a few.

Andrew Dallas - Barnsley(Transfer Fee/Loan)

Another that is probably out of the Alex's budget should Barnsley want a fee, but if they are looking to cut him loose or find him another loan move, he might be an option. He's had 2 mixed loan spells with Barrow and Morecambe, but still scored 6 goals in 20 starts this season. With some reasonable service, I think he could be an option as a rotational striker.