Walsall can repeat Nathan Lowe trick again in 2025/26 by borrowing another Stoke City starlet

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After Nathan Lowe proved himself to be one of the best young strikers in the EFL last season, Walsall must surely be eager to try to replicate his form with another Stoke City loan deal.

Walsall were one of the stories of the season down in League Two. The Saddlers were 14 points clear at the top of the table in January, but somehow managed to fall into the play-offs come May.

They were unable to get the job done at Wembley, too, with AFC Wimbledon winning promotion via the play-offs, leaving Walsall to do it all over again in 2025/26.

As per our League Two predictions for the coming campaign, we can’t see Walsall having what it takes to trouble the promotion race. Unless, that is, they manage to sign another prolific striker this summer.

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Stoke City’s Emre Tezgel should join Walsall on loan

While Emre Tezgel has signed a new contract at Stoke City, that does not necessarily mean he is part of Mark Robins’ first-team plans for the season ahead.

In fact, it is thought the 19-year-old will be sent on loan in 2025/26 to gain more experience, and Walsall would be the ideal location for him to set up for the campaign.

The young forward offers excellent hold-up play, clever movement, and is great in the air. Despite his age, he’s almost the perfect striker to take on the hustle and bustle of League Two football.

He’s been there and done it in the lower leagues before, too, having been on loan at MK Dons previously. Now, Walsall have to make him their marquee signing of the summer.

And, they should have an advantage if a battle for his signature were to arise. After all, Stoke definitely owe Walsall a favour after pulling the rug from under them in January with the recall of Nathan Lowe.

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Nathan Lowe departure spoiled Walsall’s promotion push

When Lowe joined Walsall on loan last summer, few would have quite expected him to explode in the way he did.

The young striker bagged 15 goals in 22 League Two matches in the first half of the season and was undeniably the key figure in Walsall’s climb to the top of the table.

When Stoke recalled Lowe in January, the wheels came off for the Saddlers. They won just four of their remaining 22 league games to slide down the table.

To rub salt in the wound, Stoke didn’t even give Lowe much of a chance in the first-team after recalling him. He played an average of 46 minutes per game in his ten appearances for the Potters, scoring just once.

Lowe’s future is up in the air this summer. We tipped him to be a good fit for Leyton Orient, but in truth, he would be a success wherever he goes in League One, if Stoke do decide to part ways (be it permanently or temporarily).