Carlisle United are continuing to seek for help in the free agent market – but which players are out there?
Here’s a selection of the many out-of-contract players available with League One experience or higher.
GOALKEEPERS
Matt Macey – The 28-year-old former Arsenal man has plenty of experience at this level with the likes of Plymouth Argyle and Portsmouth. The ex-Hibernian keeper left Luton Town in the summer and remains unattached.
Ben Garratt – The 29-year-old had a long stint with Crewe Alexandra, making 246 appearances, and then spent more than four years with Burton Albion. The former England youth international was released by the Brewers at the end of last season.
Keiren Westwood – Well, why not? One of United’s all-time greatest goalkeepers has not played since a 2022 spell with QPR, but the 39-year-old has not retired and has trained and spoken with other clubs over past months.
DEFENDERS
Jonathan Grounds – A vastly experienced player, Grounds is on the market after leaving Exeter City. The left-sided defender, 35, has hundreds of games to his name, the majority with Birmingham City.
Matt Penney – A versatile player who was latterly with Charlton Athletic on loan from Ipswich Town. Penney, a full-back or midfielder, is a former Sheffield Wednesday graduate who has also turned out on loan for Bradford City, Mansfield Town, German outfit St Pauli and Motherwell.
Joe Bennett – Left-sided Bennett has played much of his football at higher levels with clubs such as Middlesbrough, Aston Villa and Cardiff City. His most recent spell at Wigan Athletic ended in the summer.
MIDFIELDERS
Kieran Lee – The former Bolton Wanderers schemer is still on the market after being released by the Trotters in the summer. The former Manchester United product, now 35, previously played for Oldham Athletic and Sheffield Wednesday.
Josh Onomah – The former Spurs, Fulham and Preston player is well known to Paul Simpson, having played under the United boss during England Under-20s’ World Cup winning campaign in 2017. Onomah trained with Stoke after his Preston departure but remains without a club.
Luke Amos – Another former Tottenham Hotspur man waiting for his next opportunity, Amos spent the last three years with QPR, making 60 appearances before being released last summer.
ATTACKERS
Connor Wickham – The big former Sunderland, Ipswich Town, Forest Green and Cardiff City frontman, 30, remains a free agent after leaving the Welsh club in the summer.
Ronan Curtis – The former Portsmouth wide man turned down reduced terms at Fratton Park after recovering from an ACL injury. The Republic of Ireland international is still available, though he has had Championship interest in the past.
Gwion Edwards – Another wide player with good pedigree, ex-Peterborough United and Ipswich Town player Edwards, 30, is available after leaving Wigan Athletic, via a Ross County loan.
More free agents can be viewed via the Transfermarkt website
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