Huddersfield Town have joined the race to sign Luton Town striker Joe Taylor, according to Alan Nixon.
League One Huddersfield are looking to return to the Championship after a disappointing relegation campaign last season. Now managed by former Cheltenham Town, Barnsley and Swansea City manager Michael Duff, the Terriers are looking to add attacking reinforcements ahead of the 2024/25 season.
This is the case owing to the fact centre-back Michal Helik was Huddersfield’s top-scorer in the Championship, closely followed by loanee Delano Burgzorg, who departed the John Smith’s Stadium at the end of the term.
21-year-old Taylor has had hugely successful stints at League One and League Two level away from Kenilworth Road. He joined Colchester United at the start of the 2023/24 campaign, scoring 12 goals and providing two assists in all competitions for the U’s before being recalled by Luton in January.
He subsequently joined League One play-off hopefuls Lincoln City, where he netted an additional 10 goals and registered three assists in 19 appearances. Taylor’s goal contributions almost lifted the Imps into a playoff spot, with the club missing out by an agonising two points.
The Welshman was linked with a move to fierce rivals Watford earlier in the window, however, nothing has seemingly materialised from that interest, with Taylor still at the Hatters as things stand.
It’s no secret that Huddersfield have money to spend, with Jack Rudoni’s move to Coventry City reportedly being worth £4.9 million. The Terriers have strengthened their squad as a result, by adding in Lasse Sorensen, Mickel Miller, Herbie Kane and Anthony Evans this summer.
However, they missed out on League One Golden Boot winner Alfie May, who opted to join Birmingham City instead.
Duff must now look for another striker after missing out on a reunion with May, who was under the Northern Irishman’s wing for three years at recently relegated side Cheltenham Town.
Writer’s View
Huddersfield’s promotion hopes will depend on how good their recruitment is this summer. The additions of Sorensen, Miller, Kane and Evans are good signings, but none of them add attacking flavour to the Terriers’ squad.
If the club are to bounce straight back up, they’ll need a competent striker at League One level. The departures of Jordan Rhodes and Tyreece Simpson, who have joined Blackpool and Stevenage respectively, further shows the need for Duff to add in more attacking reinforcements.
For Taylor, joining Huddersfield, a team tipped to return to the Championship at the first time of asking, could be the next step to advance his career.
The Hatters still have the likes of Elijah Adebayo and Carlton Morris on their books, two strikers who looked perfectly comfortable making the step up to the Premier League last season. The Wales Under-21 international might well find consistent game time if he stepped back down to League One again.
