Edmundson in, Byrne out: The dream start to Stockport County’s summer transfer window

The Hatters may need to strengthen their defense ahead of a challenging League One season.

With the League Two season over and the celebrations for fourth-tier winners Stockport County winding down, the focus at Edgeley Park will shift to the summer transfer market.

The Hatters’ released and retained list included several surprise exits, most notably Paddy Madden and Ryan Croasdale, and, along with returning loan players, means that Dave Challinor and his colleagues will need to solve some issues in the window.

There have been no notable departures from the backline, but with Challinor typically opting for a back three and only having two recognised centre-backs who made more than 30 league appearances last season, there is likely room for another option in central defence.

Neill Byrne is another standout defender at the club, who delivered strong performances when called upon last season but struggled for game time overall. A switch may be the best option for both sides, and a big increase in this area would send a strong signal of intent from the Hatters.

IN: George Edmundson

George Edmundson has been one of the casualties of Ipswich Town’s fast ascension to the Premier League, having played 32 games in the 2021/22 season and then 18 games in the following League One campaign, which saw the Tractor Boys promoted but was cut short early due to injury for the 26-year-old.

He appeared just ten times in the Championship as the club earned Premier League status, and he is unlikely to get more minutes in the top tier, so a move away would appear logical if Edmundson wants more playing time, and offers would undoubtedly be considered by the hierarchy above manager Kieran McKenna.

Edmundson has 20 Championship and 70 League One matches to his CV, as well as brief stints in the Scottish Premiership and Europa League, indicating a strong pedigree in the Hatters’ new level. He would ideally be placed at the top of League One or in the lower tiers of the Championship, but County have a history of attracting talent from beyond their current division, and at the age of 26, the defender still has years to grow with the club.

It would be an ambitious signing for County, but given where the club was when Nick Powell, Paddy Madden, and Antoni Sarcevic joined, it would not be the most unusual move from the club in recent years.

The centre-back’s stats from his most recent full season in 2021/22 show that he is an accomplished defender who is at ease in possession, which is Challinor’s preferred style, but he is a better natural fit for the backline than full-backs Ibou Touray and Kyle Knoyle, both of whom the manager has attempted to convert into third centre-backs at various points this season due to their technical abilities.

Furthermore, Edmundson was born in Manchester and spent much of his early career with nearby Oldham Athletic, so a move to Stockport would be a homecoming.

His last estimated weekly wage, according to capology, was £8,846, so by no means cheap, but also not miles away from the ballpark where County could begin realistic negotiations.

It would be a significant capture for County, but would add a real element of quality to a defensive unit light on numbers heading into what promises to be a tough season.

OUT: Neill Byrne

The retirement of current County defender Neill Byrne would free up some of the pay bill to hire Edmundson, and with a contract that runs until 2025, Byrne would most certainly seek a price.

When announcing the signing of his current contract, the Hatters’ director of football, Simon Wilson, stated that the defender had “turned down a number of other offers” to stay at the club, and that interest would likely be just as strong this time around.

This season, the former Nottingham Forest player appeared 16 times for the League Two victors, 10 of which came from the start, and he seemed quite at home there.

Clubs looking for a solid, no-nonsense defender at that level would be wise to consider Byrne, but he has not been heavily relied on by Challinor due to the manager’s preference for defenders who can keep the ball at their feet for long periods of time, start attacks, and remain comfortable on the ball while being pressed.

That element is likely to have influenced Challinor’s decision to use a full-back as the third defender rather than Byrne to accompany Horsfall and Pye.

Byrne’s battle for consistent minutes in current County side is unlikely to improve as the club moves up a level, and at 31, he has more to offer a club in the final stages of his prime years than simply being a backup option.

Edmundson is more similar to the type of defensive option Challinor will be searching for in League One.

A deal for Byrne this summer may benefit all parties involved and provide breathing room for an Edmundson-style acquisition, which would be a huge indication of intent from the Hatters.