AFC Wimbledon record-breaker could depart after emotional Lyle Taylor return 

Lyle Taylor could be headed to AFC Wimbledon, but the Dons’ record signing might not make it once he gets there. Josh Davison, who cost the Dons a hefty, unknown sum in the summer of 2022, is AFC Wimbledon’s record acquisition.

But at Plough Lane, the former striker for Charlton Athletic and Swindon Town has fallen short of expectations, hitting goals somewhat sporadically and failing to deliver the kind of support that a number nine should for any team.

Therefore, Davison must be extremely concerned to learn that Wimbledon is connected to an emotional reunion with former striker and fan favorite Lyle Taylor. Taylor’s possible arrival may mean the end for the record-breaking striker.

Lyle Taylor to AFC Wimbledon latest

Since Taylor departed AFC Wimbledon on a free transfer to Charlton Athletic six years ago, there has always been speculation that he might return to the club in his latter years.

The forward, who scored 23 goals in the 2015–16 League Two promotion season and continued to score well in League One, helped the Dons avoid relegation. He was a big fan favorite at Kingsmeadow, the team’s previous home.

Ever since being released from Nottingham Forest, where he had not played a game for more than two years, he has been linked to a return to Wimbledon.

According to a South London Press story from earlier this week, Taylor is amenable to a comeback if Wimbledon and manager Johnnie Jackson decide to pursue the 34-year-old.

Though nothing has been announced from the perspective of AFC Wimbledon, there should be some action soon as the Dons will probably want to prepare for a promotion run the following season.

Josh Davison’s disappointing Dons spell

Taylor’s rumored openness to a move should worry Davison since, should the former return, Davison would probably find himself as the fifth-choice striker, which is not a position he would have chosen when he joined with the Dons in 2022.

In Jackson’s favored two-striker setup, Taylor would probably trail Omar Bugiel, Josh Kelly, newly signed Matty Stevens, and, of course, Taylor if he were to return.

Davison signed for an unknown cost in the summer that Johnnie Jackson took over as the team’s manager following Mark Robinson’s departure, shattering the record for the most expensive move for the Dons—a record that remains in place two years later.

During his first season as the number nine for the Dons, he would appear for Wimbledon 45 times in all competitions, 37 of those in the league.

He would be most effective in League Two, tallying nine goals and dishing out four assists. He also scored one goal in the EFL Trophy, although it’s reasonable to say that the comeback was a little underwhelming given that he signed a record-breaking statement up front.

For Davison and his Dons fans, this season has been even more challenging because he has only scored four goals in 36 league appearances; his next-highest total comes from three goals in the EFL Trophy.

Due to his poor goal total, Davison has also experienced a decline in his number of starts and average minutes per game.

According to Sofascore, he has only started 11 games this season and averaged 31 minutes per game, with players like Josh Kelly, Omar Bugiel, and Ali Al-Hamadi being preferred over him.

Lyle Taylor’s return may spell an end to Josh Davison at Wimbledon

It is highly likely that Davison’s tenure at AFC Wimbledon will come to an end if Taylor makes an emotional return to Wimbledon. Wimbledon is likely to wish to recover some of the money that was originally spent on him, considering that he is the record signing for the Dons.

In addition, the 24-year-old’s present contract with the team won’t last for very long because the team hardly ever grants contracts longer than three years. It wouldn’t be completely out of the question for Wimbledon to wish to let him go, considering how uninspired his performances have been while wearing yellow and blue.

But what could have been a very good signing will come to a somewhat unfortunate conclusion. During the beginning of his Dons career, Davison’s work ethic and resolve won over Wimbledon supporters everywhere he played.

They grew to believe that Davison would always have their support as long as he scored a steady amount of goals.

Nevertheless, despite his constant rushing about the pitch, the goals have not materialized, and this has not gone down well with Wimbledon supporters, many of them are just angry that such a costly acquisition has turned out to be a poor supplier of goals for the side.

Of course, there will be moments at Plough Lane that Davison is remembered for, like the thrilling victory over Harrogate in 2022–2023, but Wimbledon supporters may be relieved to see Davison go this summer, particularly if he is replaced by the return of a cult hero and vital goal scorer.