Leyton Orient backed to strike Macaulay Langstaff agreement with Millwall | OneFootball

FLW's Leyton Orient fan pundit believes the club needs a new traditional number nine.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Leyton Orient will be looking to mount another promotion push next season after they were beaten in the League One play-off final in May.

Richie Wellens came within one game of taking the O's into the Championship for the first time in 43 years, but his side were beaten by Charlton Athletic at Wembley and will now spend another season in the third tier.

Orient will be without Josh Keeley, Jamie Donley and Charlie Kelman after their loan spells came to an end, Ethan Galbraith and Jordan Brown following their respective moves to Swansea City and Blackpool, and Dan Agyei, who joined Turkish Süper Lig side Kocaelispor on a free transfer, meaning their starting lineup will look very different next term.

However, the club have made a number of impressive signings so far during the summer transfer window, including Aaron Connolly, Josh Koroma, Michael Craig and Demetri Mitchell, while midfielder Idris El Mizouni has returned to Brisbane Road on a permanent basis.

Leyton Orient urged to explore deal for Millwall striker

We asked our Orient fan pundit, Alex Rose, which player he would love to see the club sign between now and the transfer deadline on September 1st, and he stated that he would like to see a striker be brought in from Millwall.

"I think when looking at our squad now, we have a good goalkeeper, it looks like we have a solid back four with three or four additional options there, good in the middle of the park, we have got decent options out wide," Alex said.

"I wouldn't mind more wide players, but I think if there is one player that I'd like us to sign it would be Macaulay Langstaff from Millwall.

"He is someone who has scored a lot of goals at National League level, a lot of goals in League Two, but hasn't quite been able to make the step up to the Championship.

"He is based in London, and we have also just brought in Millwall's Head of Recruitment to be our new Head of Recruitment.

"I think we could probably do with a more traditional number nine - it looks like we have kept the number nine shirt free - and just somebody to share the load with Aaron Connolly and Josh Koroma, and just give us something a little bit different, a bit more physical up top.

"It would be Macaulay Langstaff for me if we could just go out and get one more player before the end of the window, but I think we probably need another winger as well."

Orient need a replacement for Kelman

If Orient are going to replicate their 2024/25 campaign and compete at the top end of League One again next season, they will need to replace Charlie Kelman's goals.

The 23-year-old scored 27 goals for the O's in all competitions last term during his loan spell from Queens Park Rangers, which earned him a permanent move to newly-promoted Championship side Charlton Athletic in a deal worth up to £5 million this summer.

Langstaff was prolific for Notts County during the two seasons prior to his move to Millwall, so he could be a good option to deliver the goals that Wellens will require in the absence of Kelman.