Scunthorpe United manager Andy Butler has confirmed his transfer focus for the remainder of the summer, revealing that he is targeting three key additions before the National League campaign kicks off next month.
Following a busy recruitment drive, Butler has set his sights on adding a pacy winger, a right-back, and a goalkeeper to complete his squad.
“There’s scope for a couple more,” he told BBC Radio Humberside. “Probably a player similar to a Mo Fadera – a little bit of a pacy winger – a right-back, and a goalkeeper. So probably three.”
The search for a new goalkeeper comes as the manager has put his full faith in former York City youngster Maison Campbell, who was limited to appearances in the Lincs Cup as Ross Fitsimons’ understudy last term.
“It was always the plan [for Campbell to be number one],” the manager stated. “It’s sink or swim and I believe Maison will swim. I think he’s got every single attribute to be a goalkeeper who will have a very good career.”
“I’m going to give him the number one shirt and I’m going to give him every opportunity,” the manager explained. “But I don’t want them to think Maison has got the ultimate right to be the number one. They’ve got to come in and compete with him.”
Former Doncaster Rovers stopper Louis Jones is understood to be on the club’s radar, whilst another former Rovers player Kian Johnson featured in the 3–2 pre-season defeat to Appleby Frodingham, prompting speculation that he could be in contention for a contract.
Butler confirmed the club is weighing up both permanent and loan options for the position, but warned that loan deals, especially for goalkeepers, carry significant financial risks.
“The only problem with loaning goalkeepers is that every single parent club wants their players to play. And if you don’t, you get a penalty fee for it,” he explained.
Because of this, Butler admitted that a permanent deal “will probably” be the preferred route, unless a favourable loan can be negotiated.
