Newport County need more transfer sales like Will Evans

It is a sale to be celebrated, even if Will Evans will be missed and the Exiles are, at least in the short-term, weakened.

The forward sat out all of the summer friendlies and won’t be in the County squad in Cheltenham on Saturday; he could instead be in the Mansfield 18 for Friday’s League One opener at Barnsley.

Evans leaves a big gap in Nelson Jardim’s squad – he is durable, dependable, hard-working and, with 107 appearances over two seasons, can now be considered an established professional.

Whether he can match his remarkable 25-goal season is yet to be seen but there isn’t a massive risk on that front for the Stags because there is more to his game.

VERSATILE: Will Evans' first EFL appearance was as a left wing-back for County at Sutton

Even if Evans ‘only’ hits 10 or so then he will also put in the graft and give everything, while he’ll also play out wide or even fill in at left-back without grumbles.

County will miss their forward from farming stock on and off the pitch but, strangely, it’s a relief that he is gone.

The Exiles had a 26-goal striker in 2021/22 but Dom Telford stayed in the January transfer window and then, after a promotion charge hit the buffers, left at the end of his contract in the summer.

The then 27-year-old stayed in the fourth tier on a bumper deal with Crawley but has since moved on to Barrow.

Despite his stature, there is more to Telford’s game than goals but, with 19 in 92 appearances over the past two seasons, his plight shows why clubs higher up the pyramid were happy to wait and see whether his golden campaign was an outlier.

The 2022 golden boot winner was in a position where suitors held fire until he was out of contract and County couldn’t risk a repeat.

It is worth remembering that this is a club that posted a loss of just over £900,000 for the year ending June 30, 2023. That followed a loss of £1.2million for the year ending June 30, 2022.

County are no longer Trust-owned but Huw Jenkins hasn’t come in and waved a financial wand to solve all those problems.

The FA Cup run and Manchester United tie helped but the club got into a pickle with a reliance on knockout success.

They have no physical assets and need to be a selling club, hence the summer recruitment drive that has focused on young talent on two-year contracts.

The Exiles need to be ready to move in the transfer market at any stage and it would be interesting if any more offers came in for Shane McLoughlin, who was on the radar of clubs at the start of the year.

Like Evans, there will be a valuation that needs to be hit for it to be worth letting him go now rather than on a free after another season of good service.

CLASS: Cameron Norman was superb over two years at County

County failed to do that when Cameron Norman’s first year at Rodney Parade attracted bids.

They were rejected and the right-back stayed on as a key figure, only to then leave the following summer on a free (disappointingly remaining in League Two with MK Dons, with another move this year to Tranmere).

Thankfully, Evans has gone in a manner that suits everyone with County potentially cashing £200,000 thanks to the addition of a clause for an extra year on the contract that could be triggered by player or club when he signed in 2022.

He becomes the first outgoing transfer with a fee since Wolves stumped up cash for the potential of Aaron Collins in January 2016.

That after Regan Poole went to Manchester United the previous summer, with Peterborough taking a hefty punt on Conor Washington in January 2014.

County will hope that the gap between Evans and the next successful sale isn’t long, with owner Jenkins charged with driving a hard bargain.

Being a stepping stone can help the Exiles bring in the funds to speed up growth.

JOY: Will Evans made it 2-2 for County against Manchester United, beating Raphael Varane to a cross (Image: Gareth Everett)

FIVE MAGICAL EVANS MOMENTS

LEYTON ORIENT - Saturday, October 1, 2022.

County became the first team to beat the O's in League Two in what was a huge upset.

Evans headed the Exiles in front from a corner, before winning a penalty that Omar Bogle converted.

County held on for a 2-1 win that they hoped would be a launchpad for boss James Rowberry, yet it would be his last success. He was sacked just two games later.

FOREST GREEN - Saturday, August 19, 2023.

The fourth of what turned out to be a six-game scoring run for Evans, and a double.

The striker slotted after just 13 seconds courtesy of Forest Green's defence failing to deal with a Ryan Delaney defensive header.

Then in the 25th minute Evans got in down the left, rounded goalkeeper Luke Daniels and slotted.

Evans took his August tally to six after managing just four goals in the entire 2022/23.

EASTLEIGH - Tuesday, January 16, 2024.

The goal that secured the meeting with Manchester United.

Aaron Wildig put County in front and then James Clarke restored the lead after a cracker by the Spitfires' Paul McCallum.

Evans ensured there would be no nerves when, after fast feet to earn a shooting opportunity, he cracked in a left-footed effort that went through goalkeeper Joe McDonnell.

MANCHESTER UNITED - Sunday, January 28.

Ice cold.

Evans celebrated a goal against his boyhood club that had County dreaming of an upset.

Bryn Morris put the Exiles in touch from distance after early strikes by Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo.

Then two minutes after the restart the hosts worked the ball to the left for Adam Lewis to cross.

Evans got ahead of Raphael Varane and slotted from inside the six-yard box.

United went on to lift the FA Cup but Evans gave them a big scare.

WALSALL - Saturday, February 10, 2024.

Evans' best County goal?

The striker scored after quarter of an hour to make it 2-0 in what would be a 3-0 success.

Evans won the ball with a well-timed press, dinked the ball past defender Donervon Daniels and absolutely leathered it into the top corner from a tight angle.