Port Vale and Doncaster Rovers should rival Northampton Town for Burnley striker | OneFootball

Northampton Town loanee Dara Costelloe should be a target for newly-promoted Doncaster Rovers and Port Vale from Burnley this summer.

Having both had their automatic promotion back to League One confirmed at the weekend, both Doncaster Rovers and Port Vale will turn their attention to squad planning for this summer’s transfer window and one eye-catching League One loanee should be high on their list.

Burnley striker Dara Costelloe joined Kevin Nolan’s Northampton Town in the winter transfer window of this season and, after a slow-ish start to his time at Sixfields, has begun to show real promise and potential.

The former Ireland U21 international has struck six goals in 14 appearances for the Cobblers with four of those strikes coming in his last seven appearances as they moved themselves to safety and away from the bottom four and the relegation places.

As both Doncaster and Vale seek to cement their League One status next season, both Grant McCann and Darren Moore should be keen on challenging Northampton for the services of Costelloe this summer.

Costelloe’s form and contract status

Costelloe joined Burnley in 2021 from Galway United and he has made six appearances across all competitions for the Clarets, featuring four times in their Championship-winning campaign under Vincent Kompany during the 2022/23 season.

He endured tough loan spells at Bradford City, Saint Johnstone and Dundee before beginning to find his feet at Accrington Stanley in League Two in the first-half of this campaign, notching five goals in 17 appearances for the Lancastrians.

His form for Stanley saw him recalled by Burnley and sent to a higher level, where he has now established himself as a key player for a Northampton side that have been much-improved in the third-tier since the appointment of Nolan in mid-December.

Prior to his move to Sixfields on the final day of this winter’s transfer window, the 22-year-old penned a new deal at Turf Moor which sees him contracted to the club until the summer of 2026.

So with a year left on his deal and Burnley now back in the top-flight, it remains to be seen as to whether another loan will be sanctioned or Scott Parker’s side will seek to sell the Limerick-born attacker.

Doncaster and Port Vale’s need for attacking depth

Whether it be a loan deal or they can pursue a permanent transfer, both Doncaster and Port Vale should be among those that are seeking to challenge Northampton for his signature.

Doncaster gained promotion with a 2-1 defeat of Yorkshire rivals Bradford City at the weekend whilst at the same time Vale sealed their immediate return to League One with a 2-0 win away at AFC Wimbledon.

Grant McCann’s Rovers have enjoyed goals from wide positions this season from the likes of Luke Molyneux and Jordan Gibson with the experience of Billy Sharp also weighing in, including a penalty against Bradford the other day.

Former Cambridge United man Joe Ironside is also at the club but their other forwards, Ethan Ennis and Rob Street, are set to depart the Eco-Power Stadium at the end of this season following the end of their loan spells from Manchester United and Lincoln City respectively.

Port Vale, on the other hand, spent a fair bit of money at League Two level last summer to back former Sheffield Wednesday boss Darren Moore, and two of their most high-profile signings were that of Jayden Stockley and Laurent Tolaj.

The pair will fancy their chances of competing in League One with the former having previously been a threat for the likes of Charlton Athletic and Fleetwood Town in the third-tier but beyond those two there isn’t much depth with the likes of Antwoine Hackford and Jemiah Umolu set to return to parent clubs Sheffield United and Crystal Palace from the Valiants.