Walsall are set to face off against Northern Irish champions Larne FC amongst other clubs over 22-year-old Benji Magee.
The striker had a superb season with Loughgall, scoring 16 times and securing the Ulster Footballer Young Player of the Year award in the process. He joined the club in 2022 from Ards, scoring five times in his debut season as The Villagers gained promotion to the top flight.
According to the Belfast Telegraph, Magee is subject to interest from other un-named clubs across the Irish Sea but it is Walsall that are the favourites alongside Larne. The Northern Irish champions are still in European competition and should they beat Gibraltan side Lincoln Red Imps, will advance to the main competition this season.
Tiernan Lynch’s team have also looked at Irish rivals Glentoran for forward options, having tabled multiple bids for former AFC Wimbledon talisman David Fisher. Walsall meanwhile have signed one new striker this summer, with Burton Albion‘s Josh Gordon arriving at Bescot.
Mat Sadler’s side find themselves the early pacesetters in League Two following their wins over Morecambe and Swindon Town. They are undefeated in all competitions, knocking Exeter City out of the EFL Cup on penalties.
Gordon and Jamille Matt are the only two fit strikers currently at Walsall, with two loan moves for additional forwards collapsing this window. Fellow summer signing Albert Adomah has also filled in up front since joining from Queens Park Rangers.
Speaking to the Express and Star, Sadler kept coy about the need for more strikers, saying: “I don’t foresee there being too many scenarios where we haven’t bought people in. The core supporters want to see the squad made up straight away.
“I’m always really careful with my words on this because it’s important that the guys who are here are giving me absolutely everything and the unity and togetherness we’ve created isn’t hurt by me continually saying we need to bring players in.
Writer’s View
Mat Sadler has said that he is in need of some attacking reinforcements so a move for Benji Magee makes some sense. The striker is still untested with only two proper seasons under his belt. He wouldn’t come to Bescot as a first choice. Both main strikers in Gordon and Matt are in the prime years of their career so having a younger option to balance that out should be a good investment.
The big challenge is convincing Magee to move to England over a transfer to Larne. The Inver Park club are back-to-back champions in Northern Ireland and are now within reach of European football. They are a club on the rise and the finances being in the Conference League may bring the club could be too much to handle for the Saddlers. Walsall does give him a chance to climb the English football pyramid should the forward have the quality, which could prove decisive in this move.
