Leyton Orient must take contract action to avoid early departure | OneFootball

Star striker Dan Agyei's contract expires at the end of the season.

Striker Dan Agyei has been in fine form for Leyton Orient so far this campaign.

Agyei currently has ten goals and five assists in 32 appearances in all competitions this season.

Speaking after the O's recent win at home to Cambridge United, Wellens praised the striker stating: "Dan Agyei was unplayable today. We were surprised they went with a back four as they normally probably play with a three, but we worked on getting him in one-on-one situations and he was the best player on the pitch by a long way."

However, as we settle into the January window, the situation regarding Agyei's future becomes cloudier every day as his contract expires in the summer - and Orient will be desperate to keep hold of their number seven.

Dan Agyei's form has rubbed off on his teammates

It's a fair assessment to say that when Agyei plays well, it strongly benefits Orient's attacking play. Striker Charlie Kelman, who is on a season-long loan from Queens Park Rangers, is currently sat on seven league goals - already matching his total from his previous loan spell with the O's in the 2022/23 season but with 19 league games to spare.

Ireland U21 international Ollie O'Neill has also benefited from Agyei's fine form, with him having a goal contribution in three of the O's last five league outings - as has striker Sonny Perkins who is on loan from Leeds United.

The result has been a serious uptick in Orient's attacking output in recent weeks, with the East London side scoring 14 goals in six league matches in the month of December.

However, with both Kelman and Perkins being loan players and the unlikelihood of them remaining Leyton Orient players after the end of the season, some consistency will be needed up front for the O's no matter where they end up in the table.

Fitness issues will play a factor in other sides' decisions

Unfortunately for both Orient and Agyei, he went down and was forced off prematurely in the first half of the O's 3-2 away win against Bristol Rovers. At the time of writing, the severity of the injury is unknown, though it did rule him out of action for the 1-0 win over Shrewsbury Town three days later.

Even if the injury is a minor one, however, Agyei's injury record is something that cannot be ignored. He only managed 17 league games last season and although it doesn't seem to have had any effect on his performances this season it could potentially put off potential suitors that would have otherwise been prepared to splash the cash on the 27-year-old.

Richie Wellens will want to keep the steady rise up the table going, with the O's currently sat 8th in League One and four points outside the playoff places. Providing that Agyei's injury isn't too serious and he can keep up the form he displayed in the first half of the season, more eyeballs will be drawn to the striker.

As soon as Orient have the opportunity to do so they should aim to make as much effort to retain Agyei through to at least the end of the season, where they can then discuss a longer-term solution. While much bigger and possibly higher clubs will certainly have some form of interest in him, all the O's can do is try and give him a suitable deal to reward him for his performances this season.

Action is needed to ensure he doesn't depart earlier than the East Londoners would like.