Transfer deadline day: any late Carlisle United deals?

The Blues have made 11 signings so far this summer – so what are the prospects of any more dealings before the deadline?

Here are some of the main areas of consideration as the summer window prepares to close…

ROOM FOR ONE MORE?

The arrival of Jordan Jones has certainly satisfied Paul Simpson’s push for an extra attacking influence on his side.

The former Wigan Athletic and Rangers winger, on a three-year-deal, is a major piece of business by the Blues in the closing days of 2024’s summer window.

Paul Simpson is due to speak to the media on Friday afternoon at his regular pre-match press conference, where an insight into his deadline-day thinking ought to be confirmed.

Before the arrival of Dominic Sadi last week, United’s manager had suggested a couple more faces could come through the door – and that’s how it’s panned out with the signings of Sadi and Jones.

Carlisle, though, have been linked with other potential business, Rangers’ attacking midfielder Alex Lowry the subject of a number of reports about United interest.

Do United need another creator in that department, or are there other areas of the squad that would benefit from some last-minute help?

One position could be attack, depending on the latest injury bulletins from Brunton Park.

The sight of Georgie Kelly limping off at MK Dons with a calf injury was a sad one but also familiar given the Irish striker’s injury-plagued start to life at Carlisle since January.

Should Kelly be sidelined for a period – and the early signs weren’t good – it would leave the Cumbrians light of a senior frontman, with Charlie Wyke, Daniel Adu-Adjei and Luke Armstrong left to shoulder the burden (and Anton Dudik not a realistic front-line option right now).

Simpson has room for more loan additions, having only signed two loanees so far, and this might well be an area where he sees the need for another option.

At least in Sadi and Jones, United do have genuine attacking options newly on the books, even if they are not centre-forwards, while Dan Butterworth is another candidate in this department (though not one Simpson has much turned to yet, hence other possibilities - see below).

As for the central midfield area, could that be under late consideration?

That may boil down to the reliability of getting certain players back to fitness and keeping them there. Dylan McGeouch is on the brink of a return, though Ethan Robson and Callum Guy are still some time from their comebacks.

The other question may be about what Simpson does tactically, following Jones’ arrival – whether 3-5-2 remains the prevailing choice, or United switch to a system that promotes Jones’ qualities on the wing, and what that does for any remaining transfer priorities.

EXIT DOOR?

Simpson made it clear last week that he’d be prepared to let one player leave, should a deal materialise that was right for all parties.

There was no sign at that point of such an offer, but the latter stages of the transfer window could yet focus minds when it comes to those individuals not getting much first-team football.

Those from the senior ranks yet to start a game in the early stages of 2024/25 include Armstrong, though it’s hard to see January’s record signing being in the frame for anything other than close first-team involvement, particularly in light of Kelly’s injury.

Butterworth, who some fans were arguing deserved a starting spot based on some bright pre-season moments, has been limited to substitute cameos so far and, if you were looking for a potential senior player as a candidate to move, he would probably be high on the list. It's indeed understood there is interest in the 24-year-old ahead of the deadline.

Could Dan Butterworth be a candidate for a deadline-day departure? (Image: Richard Parkes)

It’s hard to see too many other senior candidates to leave Brunton Park, given the need for cover in a range of positions.

If there is other outward business to be done, then the loan market seems a likely avenue.

Simpson has not been in a hurry to send out some of United’s teenage players, given the injuries to senior figures in recent weeks.

The arrivals of Sadi and Jones, and the returns to fitness of McGeouch and Cameron Harper, ought to give the Blues boss more leeway when it comes to that now.

Sam Hetherington, Jake Allan, Aran Fitzpatrick and Anton Dudik are likely to have loans back on their agenda at some stage, in a bid to further their first-team development.

Another question is whether Simpson feels the need to loan out one of his back-up keepers with the same goal in mind.

Gabe Breeze is currently second-choice to Harry Lewis, with summer signing Jude Smith yet to figure in the squad.

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