Since their return to the EFL, Notts County have developed somewhat of a reputation as a club that is willing to sell their key players, and this trend looks set to continue, according to the Guardian’s Will Unwin.
The Magpies have sold Macaulay Langstaff, Aaron Nemane, Daniel Crowley and, most recently, Alex Bass whilst also losing David McGoldrick on a free transfer in the last 12 months.
It appears that they may lose a sixth key player imminently, as higher division clubs from overseas are reported to have turned a star player’s head.
Notts County Star Could Be Set For Overseas Move
Unwin reports that Alassana Jatta is the subject of interest from Portuguese side Casa Pia, who finished in ninth place in the Portuguese top flight last season.
They are not the only club interested in the 26-year-old, as an unnamed Turkish club and an unnamed League One side are also in the race for the striker.
Jatta has been one of the most successful transfers of the Reedtz brothers’ ownership so far.
The rangy frontman was plucked from relative obscurity as he had a distinctly average goalscoring record playing for Danish club Viborg FF. In fact, he had only scored once in 14 appearances during the 2023/24 season when the Magpies paid a fee to sign him.
He has been a revelation at Meadow Lane, massively softening the blow of losing Langstaff by scoring marginally under once every two games on average and finishing as the second-highest goalscorer in League Two last season.
It is not yet known if any interested parties have tabled a bid to sign the Gambian international, or if the Magpies would consider selling him at this stage of the transfer window.
However, the striker has already faced some disruption during preseason as Notts County were unable to take him on their preseason tour of Germany due to visa issues.
Writer’s View
Fans and pundits alike are already sceptical about the situation at Meadow Lane, given the extremely unorthodox nature of the new-look managerial set up. Selling such an important player in Jatta would surely take them out of playoff contention in everyone’s minds.
The Magpies were only able to finalise their replacement for Bass, former Derby County goalkeeper Kelle Roos, a few days ago and the Dutchman is yet to play a game for his new team.
This will already put the Nottinghamshire-based club on the back foot defensively, meaning they cannot afford to compromise in the offensive third.
A potential exit for Jatta would leave the club with just Mai Traore, who is yet to score a goal in English football, and Matthew Dennis as their recognised options up front.
