According to Football League World, League One outfit Huddersfield Town are in talks with former Sunderland and Stoke City defender Lynden Gooch.
The 29-year-old is a free agent after leaving Stoke after just two seasons with the club.
According to journalist Pete O’Rourke, Gooch was at the Huddersfield training ground on Thursday over a potential move to the Yorkshire outfit.
Lynden Gooch’s Career So Far
The California-born man played for the Santa Cruz Breakers before making the move to Tyne and Wear to join Sunderland in 2012. Temporary moves away to Gateshead and Doncaster Rovers followed, before he became a crucial part of Sunderland’s side.
In 11 years with the Black Cats, he made just three shy of 250 appearances, 11 of which came in the Premier League. He won promotion from League One with the side and helped Sunderland become a stable Championship side, before leaving to join Stoke for a reported fee of around £1 million in 2023.
Whilst at the Potters, he played 53 games in two seasons, 49 of which came in the Championship. He is now a free agent, after being let go by Stoke upon the expiry of his contract.
Despite playing in the Championship the past few seasons, stats-wise, Gooch has actually made the most appearances of his career in the third tier, playing 155 times in League One, and it looks like he wants to add to that tally with a potential move to the John Smith’s Stadium.
Busy Summer Window For Huddersfield Town
It’s been a very active window at the John Smith’s Stadium, with eight players coming through the doors after the side released 18 first-team and academy players upon the expiration of their contracts.
Among these names are the likes of Ryan Ledson, Owen Goodman, Jack Whatmough, Joe Low and Marcus Harness, who are all eye-catching names for the third tier. There’s no doubt that new manager Lee Grant and his side are gunning for promotion, with the potential addition of Gooch furthering that narrative.
According to Football League World, their ninth could be on the way in the shape of versatile Gooch, who can play on either side and anywhere down the flanks.
The USA international has plenty to offer at 29, and could be yet another shrewd piece of business for the Terriers.
Using The Free Agent Market
Like many other clubs, Huddersfield for the most part have done their shopping in free agency, with five of their eight signings joining the club on free transfers. Two others have been loan signings, while the only player brought in for a fee is Whatmough.
Many of these players have made the step down from the Championship, with Ledson coming in from Preston North End, Harness from Ipswich Town, and Murray Wallace from Millwall. Gooch would follow the trend of signing free agent ex-Championship players as they look for promotion to that division.
Writer’s View
Huddersfield have no doubt had one of the best windows in League One so far, and look to be one of the teams who are going to be up there fighting for promotion this season.
However, doubt surrounds manager Grant, who has been appointed as manager. This is the 42-year-old’s first managerial job as a manager, after being an assistant manager at Ipswich.
