Stoke City star must be the answer to Leyton Orient’s problems this summer, League One clubs will be keen

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Finding a competent striker is often the number one priority for many clubs in the transfer market, and we’re likely to see a lot of League One clubs scrambling to snap up one Stoke City starlet this summer.

Prolific forwards are a valuable commodity in this game regardless of what level you’re playing at. Goals win football matches, it’s as simple as that, and it’ll be goalscorers that plenty of clubs will be shopping for in the coming months.

We’ve already laid out our predictions for the League One 2025/26 campaign, and tipped Leyton Orient to fall well short of the lofty heights they reached this season in the play-off places.

However, there is one signing Richie Wellens could make during the summer transfer window that would instantly give his side a boost.

• READ MORE: Charlton Athletic on course to make £20m announcement after League One play-off final success

Nathan Lowe will be a wanted man for League One clubs, Leyton Orient have to pounce

After their defeat in the League One play-off final at the hands of Charlton Athletic, Leyton Orient are now likely to lose a number of key players.

Of course, most of those were loan signings anyway, with the likes of Josh Keeley, Jamie Donley, and Charlie Kelman now returning to their parent clubs.

Kelman in particular had an incredible season, scoring 27 goals in all competitions. Replacing that kind of output will be a massive challenge, but Wellens must surely be looking at Nathan Lowe at Stoke City and rubbing his hands together.

The young striker caught the eye during his loan spell with League Two outfit Walsall in 2024/25, where he scored 18 goals and registered seven assists.

Lowe was recalled in January by Stoke, though, and while he did make ten appearances for the Potters upon his return, he only managed one goal in the Championship and wasn’t really given a consistent run in the team.

It is widely expected that the 19-year-old will now be given a fresh opportunity to prove himself out on loan, with a League One move in the offing.

Leyton Orient would not be the only club keen, though. The likes of Wycombe, Stockport, Reading, and Cardiff City are all likely to need a new striker this summer, and they’ll be queuing up to borrow the Stoke youngster.

• READ MORE: Leyton Orient’s Charlie Kelman shares instant reaction to his offside goal vs Stockport County, ‘got to sell it’

Nathan Lowe’s departure was a disaster for Walsall in 2024/25

Walsall were as many as 14 points clear at the top of the League Two table at one point, before Lowe left the club in the New Year.

To really hammer home how important Lowe was, Walsall won 5-1 in his final game, with Lowe bagging in the win over Tranmere Rovers.

After his departure, the Saddlers won just four of their remaining 22 league games and ended up in the play-offs instead of gaining automatic promotion. They would get past Chesterfield there, but eventually lost to AFC Wimbledon in the final at Wembley.