2026-27 Recruitment Plan for Shrewsbury Town

Player Decisions

Retain

Will Boyle, George Lloyd, Tom Sang, Will Brook, Isaac Lee, Sam Stubbs, Isaac England, Will Gray, Kevin Berkoe, Josh Ruffels, Luca Hoole

Release

Mal Benning, Joe Morris, Karsten Cairns, Isaac Godwin, Jack Loughran, Nick Freeman, Alex Gilliead, Anthony Scully, John Marquis, Harrison Biggins, Taylor Perry

Loan End

Matthew Cox, Tommy McDermott, Iwan Morgan, Ismael Kabia, Trey Ogunsunyi, Temple Ojinnaka, Brad Ihionvien

Sell

Tom Anderson, Sam Clucas, Ricardo Dinanga, Callum Stewart

Sign

Arkell Jude-Boyd, Isaac Fletcher, Byron Pendleton, Jay Turner-Cooke, Josh Davidson, Joe Gbode, Jack Price, Sam Proctor

Retained Squad

New Signings

Lee Burge (Northampton Town – free)

The Shrews have got a young goalkeeper on their books for whom everyone has got high hopes in Will Brook. However, I personally don’t think that there is any harm in Gavin Cowan going out and adding an experienced goalkeeper to provide the 22-year-old with a) the competition and b) the mentorship that he needs to develop into being a top operator for the level. While he may want to go in as a #1, I feel that former Northampton Town goalkeeper Lee Burge could well be a good option to look at. 

In terms of experience, The Shrews aren’t going to find many better options than the 33-year-old. Burge has played just under 400 career appearances, has been promoted out of League Two twice (with Northampton Town in 2023, and Coventry City in 2018) and has won the EFL Trophy with The Sky Blues and Sunderland. Burge is a winner. He has been there, done it and got many T-Shirts. The goalkeeping department was – at one point – a bit of a problem area for The Shrews, but I feel that having that consistency in that department this season would do them the world of good. 

The only concern that I would have in advocating for this move is that it may well hamper the development of a young goalkeeper in Will Brook that really impressed me in 2025-26 when he got minutes. Brook is only 22 years of age and so has got a lot of time left in his career given that goalkeepers play – at the very least – into their mid 30’s. Personally, I wouldn’t have any problem in keeping Brook as the #1 initially and bringing Burge in as the #2, as I think that the pair could dovetail each other quite nicely. 

The question mark with Burge is whether he is intent on going into his next role as the first-choice goalkeeper, or whether or not he will be content in going into a club and providing competition alongside a younger option. Personally, I think that it would be beneficial for both a) Lee Burge, in keeping him on his toes and b) Will Brook, in sharpening his game to bring in an established goalkeeper.

Jili Buyabu (Sheffield United – loan)

I am expecting The Shrews to stick with using the wing-back system in which they set-up at the back-end of the campaign in ensuring their safety in League Two. The success of that system long-term is going to hinge on the quality of the wing-backs and particularly in having the speed, running power and athleticism to get ‘up and down’ in transition. One player that I would be considering as an option that is well-suited to the system that Town employ is Sheffield United youngster Jili Buyabu. 

Buyabu is a player that Gavin Cowan will know, given that the youngster comes off the back of a loan in the National League with Robbie Savage’s Forest Green Rovers. Rovers operated largely in a 4-2-3-1, and I personally don’t think that system suits him. His best attributes are his energy and athleticism, and in providing an outlet for his side going forward in getting beyond the play and operating almost as a winger when they have got the ball. As a full-back, I feel that he is perhaps targeted in turnovers in a defensive capacity, and so if you are going to get the best out of him then you’ve got to play him as a wing-back. 

The youngster is exactly the type of profile you want for that wing-back role. At his best, he is given license to stretch his legs and get forward with his pace. He has a long-legged, aggressive running style that allows him to be a good option on the overlap in forcing the opposition back towards their own goal. They have signed Byron Pendleton this summer on a permanent deal from Birmingham City and he may well play on the left-hand side at times, but in terms of the attributes that I would want in that part of the pitch – strong, powerful, combative and a good engine – then Buyabu represents a much better fit. 

I think there is room for development in Buyabu’s game in terms of defensive qualities and the fact that at times he is overly aggressive in getting forward that they can be susceptible when the ball is turned over. However, his loan with Forest Green Rovers was so productive under Robbie Savage that the rumours are that he won’t be returning to the fifth tier side in favour of testing himself in the Football League. Personally, I think that he now needs that test at this stage. 

While The Blades have given a number of their young players an opportunity to play in the first-team, I don’t feel that Buyabu is close to getting game time under Chris Wilder any time soon and so is likely to go out on loan again in 2026-27. After spending time in the National League with Rochdale and Forest Green Rovers, I would personally be looking to test the youngster with a loan in the Football League and so League Two and Shrewsbury Town represent a sensible step up for him.

Sam Lavelle (Grimsby Town – loan)

The Shrews are already well-stocked in a defensive capacity, albeit I do feel that they will be looking to add another centre-back before the start of the campaign. If they do add a centre-back, they will likely be playing as a #2 pick for Gavin Cowan’s side. One option that I think may well relish the opportunity to remain a Football league player by signing for The Shrews to provide competition to the options they’ve currently got on their books is experienced defender Sam Lavelle. 

The way that Gavin Cowan likes his teams to set up puts little in the way of technical responsibility on the centre-backs in playing out. Last season, their formula in staying up was dependent upon strong defensive foundations, taking very little risk in the final third, and going direct in the build-up. As such, I think that Sam Lavelle could be quite a nice fit for this. Lavelle is a robust, aerially strong, box defender that will look to engage the opposition forwards in physical battles, he is no-nonsense and doesn’t mind being a little bit unpolished in the way that he defends. 

In terms of the profile of centre-backs that Gavin Cowan likes, I feel he will like a lot about Lavelle. One thing that I think would be particularly welcome is the fact that Lavelle is a leader that is vocal, he organises well and has held the captaincy at previous clubs, and so is the type of character that you want in the defensive third. Last season, I didn’t think that there were enough ‘talkers’ in the Shrewsbury Town side in terms of taking the initiative, leading by example and managing games on the field, and so I think that signing an orator such as Lavelle might be welcomed. 

One of the main reasons as to why I like Sam Lavelle as an option is the fact that he is an out-and-out centre-back. The Shrews have used a right-back and a left-back in the two wide centre-back spots – in Luca Hoole and Josh Ruffels – given that they are comfortable and more natural in defending wide spaces, and so I think there is value in them adding a more orthodox centre-back. 

Lavelle is still contracted to The Mariners going into 2026-27, and he has been made available for transfer by boss David Artell. Given that he would only be coming in as a back-up centre-back, I think that The Shrews may well be reluctant to spend on a player of his profile and so that may well put them off shelling out a fee. If The Mariners have signed suitably by the start of the campaign, I could see a situation in which The Mariners let Lavelle leave the club on a free transfer if both parties agree for a mutual termination. However, as it stands I think that he might have to be a loan. Rest assured, I expect he will start the new campaign playing his football away from Blundell Park and so he might be a nice option for The Shrews.

Ty Barnett (Wolverhampton Wanderers – free)

When I was initially picking out potential targets for Shrewsbury Town to sign, Ty Barnett is a player that cropped up on my radar as being a good fit. Since then, he has been let go by Wolverhampton Wanderers on a free transfer and so I would definitely be making a move for the youngster if I were in Gavin Cowan’s shoes. 

The youngster is likely to end up signing for a team in the Football League, and so I think that The Shrews should be at the front of the queue for his signature given that they are on his metaphorical doorstep. I feel that Gavin Cowan will look to put together a fairly young side, and they’ve already signed a player let go by a higher-level, Midlands academy in the form of Byron Pendleton, and so I believe that Barnett is the type of profile that Shrewsbury Town should be signing. Young, hungry, with a lot of potential, having been coached well and eager to do well with the opportunity of first-team football in a full-time environment. If they can get him, I think it would be a good acquisition. 

With The Shrews playing a 3-at-the-back, I feel that Ty Barnett is well-suited to playing as one of the two #10’s in behind a physical #9. He is most effective playing slightly off the left-hand side whereby he can open the pitch up and drift inside onto his stronger right, and maintain the pace of attacks. Playing off the right-hand side, I feel that he perhaps slows the games down and so you want to get him playing centrally and coming onto the play. He is quick, agile, a willing runner, efficient in the carry and has a good strike from distance. 

Looking at the side that Shrewsbury Town had last season, I think Barnett gives them some attributes which they lacked. Speed. Power. Positive running, and driving the ball direct-to-goal. Taking risks with the ball. Playing forward. Attacking space. Playing at pace, and having an intensity to the attack. Wanting to commit players back towards their own goal. They didn’t really have that profile beyond Ismael Kabia, and so I feel adding a player of Barnett’s skillsets would complement what they are building quite nicely. 

Long-term, I think that success for Shrewsbury Town will hinge partly on their ability to identify young players that they can bring in, develop, and move on for a good profit. The fact that Barnett has been let go paves the way for The Shrews to land a precocious talent for a much reduced fee on what they perhaps would have done six months ago, and at 20 years of age I feel that he is definitely worth taking a chance on. Admittedly, Barnett is completely new to the challenge of playing first-team football, but I like a lot of the attributes that he has and I think that if The Shrews can platform him right then he could thrive.

Carlos Mendes Gomes (Luton Town – free)

The signings that The Shrews have made so far have – I feel – been ‘good’, yet they don’t make you sit up and think ‘wow’. If they are to push towards the top seven in the coming campaign, I think that they need to go out and add one or two ‘marquee’ signings to sprinkle that little bit more magic and creativity on their side. One player that I think would definitely fall into the category of being the type of player that The Shrews would have to push the boat out to sign given that I feel he is more than likely going to end up signing for a team either a) in League One or b) at the top of League Two is Carlos Mendes Gomes. 

Mendes Gomes is a player that I think has had a bit of a ‘lull’ in his career, but someone that I maintain a lot of belief in as being a wonderfully talented player. I believe that just needs to find his feet and the right manager to get him back playing to his best, and if you can do that then you’ve got a top player and in my opinion still one of the best #10’s in the division. Of all the options that Mendes Gomes could take on the market, I feel that The Shrews could well be the right stylistic fit for the attacking player. 

If you are to get the best out of Mendes Gomes, I think that you need to put him into a system whereby he has got the artistic license and tactical freedom to go and pick up clever attacking positions in and around the box. His best football has come in a Morecambe side that were fairly conservative in their approach, and those strong foundations allowed Mendes Gomes to go and do what he does best in terms of having the license to create and take risks. You want to get him playing as a #10, allowing him to go and get involved as he wishes as a bit of an off-the-cuff, ‘free spirited’ attacking player. 

He has shown that he has got the ability to be a threat in League Two, having been arguably the best player in the division when Morecambe were promoted from the division under Derek Adams. During his time at Morecambe, Mendes Gomes demonstrated that he was a quick, energetic, skilful #10 with a penchant for a shot from distance, always looking to get on the turn and drive the ball to goal, and always positive in his play. Ideally, I think you want him arriving onto the play and shooting from range, or allowing him to spin off into half-spaces between the lines, receive the ball on the turn and get shots off. 

One of the criticisms that Shrewsbury Town fans had of Gavin Cowan’s football last year was that it was too conservative and they didn’t create enough risks in the final third and so if they are to address those shortcomings then I think they’ve got to be a little bit ambitious in signing a player of Mendes Gomes’ calibre. If The Shrews can get the right system around him to allow him to go and create, I feel that with the confidence of his manager and license to roam he can be a top operator for the level. After two seasons in which he has underwhelmed, I think that he needs a new challenge and a manager that can put an arm round him and platform him well, and I believe signing for The Shrews is a good option.

Will Wright (Salford City – loan)

The final player that I have picked out as a potential target for The Shrews to sign this summer is Will Wright. The youngster is formerly of Salford City and is currently with Premier League outfit Liverpool. I think that the likelihood is we may see him playing his football in the Football League next year, and so if that is the case then I think that Shrewsbury Town could put themselves in the queue for his signature. 

In terms of the forwards that Shrewsbury Town have currently got on their books, I think Wright represents the right complementary profile. They have got two hard-working strikers in Josh Davison and George Lloyd that perhaps do their best – or most effective – work outside the width of the penalty area and a powerhouse in Joe Gbode, but I feel they need that player that is going to play on the last line of the opposition, with a natural movement to want to play in behind, stretch teams and use their pace to drive to goal. In this regard, I think Wright has got the requisite ticks against his name to provide those skillsets. 

As a profile, Wright is an energetic, high-intensity, mobile forward that wants to run beyond the play. He is only 18 years of age, but he is 6ft 4in and so can provide that physical outlet at the top end of the pitch to play off. His best work – I feel – is when he is facing the goal. He is an instinctive finisher with good ball-striking, and he showed during his time with Salford City that he has got a range of finishes. He has good anticipation to where the ball is going to drop, and has strong technique. 

One of the things that I find particularly desirable about Wright as a signing is that he is a rather unique profile given his height, yet has got the mobility and a turn of pace. You don’t often find many strikers with the size and stature to lead the line a a traditional #9 with the movement and athleticism to play into space off the shoulder, and so I think that the youngster provides The Shrews with a lovely well-rounded profile. When identifying #9’s, I will always look for one that has got good mobility, with high energy and always on the move as a willing runner to create angles, and Wright is that. 

After joining Liverpool from Salford City, the youngster has not had a taste of first-team football and so I think that the best thing for his development this coming season is to go out on loan and get games under his belt. I feel that the right level at which to pitch the youngster for a potential loan is in League Two, and so The Shrews could be a credible candidate. I think that Gavin Cowan is likely to set up in a system that employs two strikers – a commodity that lots of other sides can’t provide. If there is a chance that they can sign him, I would go all out for his signature if I were Cowan.