Leyton Orient should attempt to sign one of Richie Wellens’ former players this summer.
Birmingham City winger Keshi Anderson’s contract is likely to expire this summer, and Leyton Orient should keep an eye on the issue.
Anderson signed a one-year contract with the Blues last summer, with the option to extend until 2025, and it is unclear whether he will remain at St. Andrew’s.
If he were a free agent, League One clubs, including Richie Wellens’ Orient, would undoubtedly be interested in him.
Leyton Orient’s attacking options
Leyton Orient has four attacking players under contract for the 2024-25 season: Dan Agyei, Joe Pigott, Ollie O’Neill, and Jordan Graham. Dan Agyei will most likely start the new season as Wellens’ first choice striker.
The 26-year-old scored five goals in 17 League One outings during his injury-plagued debut season with the O’s. Meanwhile, Wellens just announced that backup striker Joe Pigott will be allowed to go during the forthcoming transfer window.
Ollie O’Neill joined the O’s from Premier League side Fulham in January, but he has quickly established himself as one of the club’s finest performers, scoring five goals and assisting three times in 17 league appearances from the left wing.
Jordan Graham, like Agyei, missed the majority of the season due to injuries and will be hoping to make a far bigger impact on the club next season.
Not to mention that Orient are in contract talks with 2023-24 top goalscorer Ruel Sotiriou and Theo Archibald, but there is no certainty that they will not go.
Even with those two resigning, the Orioles would still be low on forward choices. This is why they should be active in the transfer market, as players like Anderson are potentially available.
Leyton Orient should offer Keshi Anderson a contract
Leyton Orient may have exceeded expectations with their 11th-place finish in League One last season, but they faltered near the conclusion of the season, owing in large part to a lack of squad depth.
So it is now up to Director of Football Martin Ling to provide Wellens with a team capable of finishing better in the table the next time around.
Birmingham’s Anderson, who previously worked with the O’s boss at Swindon Town, would undoubtedly contribute to the club’s success. The speedy wide player earned six goals and five assists in 20 League.
The Robins won the championship after two games. Anderson, on the other hand, elected to leave Swindon and join League One club Blackpool, where he also assisted in their promotion.
However, after failing to contribute significantly to the Tangerines’ Championship campaign in 2022-23, the former Crystal Palace youth moved to join Birmingham last summer.
And the 28-year-old failed once more, scoring only one goal for the Blues as they were relegated from the division.
It appears that Anderson is not cut out for the Championship, but he has proven to be impactful in League One.
With an existing relationship with Wellens and a track record of winning promotions, the O’s would be prudent to offer Anderson a contract in the coming weeks if he is not part of the plans at St Andrew’s.
