AFC Wimbledon should have clear transfer focus to compete in League One | OneFootball

With promotion secured to the second tier for AFC Wimbledon, the focus for the upcoming window is clear, and fairly simple

There is a buzz around all AFC Wimbledon fans as the dust still settles, but with promotion to a new league comes the need for work in the summer transfer window.

However, having proved how brilliant their defensive unit has been throughout the play-offs with clean sheets all the way through, it does feel that work in that area of the squad is not instantly needed.

Work, however, is needed in the Dons' attack, as while solid 1–0 wins are perfectly fine, there is every chance that a fair few more goals will need to be scored next season if Wimbledon want to have any hope of staying afloat in the third tier.

Johnnie Jackson can rely on a similar defensive structure in League One

The story of Wimbledon's play-off success has a lot to do with how brilliant their defence was throughout the semi-finals, and then under the arch at Wembley in the final.

It had seemed throughout the second half of this season that Jackson's men had rather lost their way when it came to scoring early and grinding out results, but a 'back to the drawing board' approach seemed to have reset the Dons at just the right time, as while there were still the poor results of Gillingham away and Port Vale at home, all that matters is that there were no goals conceded in their last four games, including the play-off games, and all ended in positive, winning results.

And so, to build on what are clearly very solid foundations, Jackson should simply rely on the same, if not very similar, defensive and midfield unit to the one that dealt with Walsall and Notts County with ease in the play-offs.

To start with, most of the players that formed part of that brilliant defence are still under contract at the club. Joe Lewis and Riley Harbottle still have at least the 2025/26 season left on their deals, and while Isaac Ogundere does deserve a fresh deal for his performances this past year, he does have a year's option which will likely be triggered.

That means that it is just Ryan Johnson, or his position as a left-sided centre-back, that needs attention this summer in terms of outfielders in the defence. With Johnson having been so dependable for large parts of this season, it would be no surprise to see him be tied up to a new deal, but due to him closing in on 30 years of age, the club may look to move him on and plump for someone younger.

Experience is key a division up from League Two, with so many fallen giants forming a large majority of the third tier, but equally, Wimbledon has proved a happy development ground for young stars in the English game in recent years, so it will be about finding the right balance of bringing the correct amount of quality in to start for the Dons, and then searching out the best possible cover for those players too.

Moving back to goalkeepers, and there should not be too much worry in terms of who comes in, as be they young, up-and-coming 'keepers on loan, or perhaps those that have fallen by the wayside in their development, the brilliant Ashley Bayes will be sure to make them into a fantastic first choice to play in between the sticks.

Then back out into the wing-back positions, and while James Tilley and Josh Neufville are both out of contract now, both have been key to Jackson's system, and have played so well in it. Therefore, negotiations are likely already underway, if not sealed, and it may just be a matter of when, and not if. Now the pair confirm they are staying on and not causing a recruitment headache.

Further up into the midfield, whose pressure and presence on and off the ball helped keep the defence so tight, while both Jake Reeves and Alistair Smith are currently heading out the door, both are expected to stay on at the club, with Reeves most likely to pick a contract for the next year or two, and Smith likely to sign permanently for the future having been released by Lincoln City.

Attacking unit needs minimal additions to make AFC Wimbledon competitive

It is the attack, however, that will need the largest overhaul this summer, with both another quality attacking midfielder needed and another reliable source of goals at League One level.

Having touched on the more defensive side of the midfield with the likes of Reeves and Smith above, it is the likes of Callum Maycock and Myles Hippolyte that will need extra support heading into next season.

The pair are great quality players and offer a very similar style of play in terms of their energy in the middle of the park, but both are going to need a back-up option just to make sure that the Dons are not left without true quality in their absence, should there be one.

There are prospects coming through the academy that would offer similar, but to be truly competitive, Wimbledon are going to have to be creative in their recruitment to make sure the perfect additions are found for not a lot of money.

Moving further up the pitch, another striker is pretty much essential, as while Matty Stevens' 17 goals were the highest return from a striker that the Dons have had in quite some years, his tally did dry up well before the end of the season, with goalscorers having to be found from elsewhere in the team.

A repeat of this type of form is not going to be ideal in League One, and so, therefore, another goalscorer should be top of the shopping list. Any potential forward signing might have to be happy rotating in and out of the side though, with the likes of Omar Bugiel and Josh Kelly both still likely to be at the club, as both are under contract for at least another season, which could limit the market a little for Craig Cope, AFC Wimbledon's Director of Football.

Overall then, there is no major rebuild on the cards for the Dons, as with promotion, there is likely to be a slew of contracts renewed for those who had expiring deals, and while there may be the odd pay increase too, it is hard to argue against it following such a determined showing in the playoffs.

However, there is still going to be a few signings needed for the Dons