All at the O’s wish Joe the very best during his time away from East London.
Leyton Orient can confirm that forward Joe Pigott has joined AFC Wimbledon on a season-long loan.
Pigott, 30, will return to Plough Lane, where he spent three seasons earlier in his career, from 2018-2021.
Possible targets or tactics Johnnie Jackson could now employ
Now that Taylor is off the mind of both fans and staff alike, the next question is, who, if anyone, should the Dons choose as their fourth striking option for the 2024/25 season.
The most recent target that could potentially move to the Dons this week, if reports are to be believed, is another former favourite, in the form of Joe Piggott.
Pete O’Rourke and Football Insider both reported on Tuesday that Piggott, who currently plays for Leyton Orient, could be heading to Wimbledon on loan, with the potential of the transfer becoming permanent next summer, when Piggott’s contract at Orient expires.
He has not had a great time since leaving the Dons back in 2021, with spells at Ipswich Town, Portsmouth, and now Orient, all not being very fruitful for the 30-year-old, and this could put Jackson off turning to another fan favourite.
If Jackson and his transfer team want to employ a striker that has been much more successful in front of goal, they would not do much better than signing Harry Cardwell from troubled Southend United. The 27-year-old has had a good spell at the Shrimpers, building up his game time and goals since signing for the Essex-based side in 2021, with 23/24 his highest scoring so far.
Harry Cardwell’s National League Stats 2023-24 | |
Appearances | 39 |
Average Minutes Per Game | 90 |
Goals | 18 |
Shots Per Game | 2.2 |
Shots on Target Per Game | 1.1 |
Accurate Passes Per Game | 11.7 |
Assists | 4 |
Key Passes Per Game | 0.7 |
Aerial Duels Won Per Game | 5.9 |
Total Duels Won Per Game | 9.5 |
Stats Correct As Of May 4, 2024 – As Per Sofascore |
It would be understandable though if Jackson and Wimbledon do not want to spend all the cash they have recently gained through outgoings and clauses being activated in deals involving former players, and therefore, they could look at Crystal Palace youngster Ademola Ola-Adebomi.
He has been in great form for Palace’s U21 side in recent years, and got his first taste of senior football last term at Burton Albion, where he only scored once in 14 games, with only seven being starts.
While he has not got the goals behind him yet to be considered a great goalscorer, he would be a good pick-up by the Dons, with the club having experienced success with former Palace youngsters Kofi Balmer and John Kymani-Gordon last season, and using their links with the Eagles again to all but secure the signing of Owen Goodman for the 24/25 season, according to reports.
Of course, there may be no further signings up front, with Jackson potentially happy with only three strikers, which could be a signal that he is favouring a new system in what he hopes to be a promotion-winning season.
The former Spurs and Charlton man could transform the Dons playing style next season by opting for a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, requiring only one striker, and with Matty Stevens joining Omar Bugiel and Josh Kelly, there may be no room for a fourth option.