Five midfielders Cambridge United could sign ahead of their League One return

Mark Bonner has been working hard to improve Cambridge United’s squad after winning promotion, but their threadbare midfield is still an area of concern.

The U’s have brought six new faces to The Abbey so far this summer, replacing the likes of Luke Hannant and Paul Mullin who left the club at the end of their contracts. But with pre-season underway, there are clear gaps in the squad that need filling before their opening fixture against Oxford United.

There’s a clear lack of options in defence, with just two senior centre-backs under contract with the club. But Bonner has pinpointed the U’s midfield as the next area he wants to improve after bringing striker Sam Smith back to the club. The 35-year-old looks likely to stick with his preferred 4-4-2 formation next season, but only has three centre midfielders at his disposal.

Paul Digby looks all but certain to nail down a starting spot next season after agreeing a new two-year deal amidst reported interest from Charlton and Sunderland. Liam O’Neil and Adam May won’t be far from the lineup either, but injuries or suspensions could leave the U’s with even fewer options in the middle of the park.

While all three have League One experience, none of them offer much in the way of creativity or attacking intent, having scored five league between them last season. It’s clear that, as well as depth, Cambridge need an extra spark in the heart of their midfield for the upcoming campaign to ease the pressure on Wes Hoolahan.

Here’s five midfielders they may try to bring to The Abbey this summer.

Hiram Boateng – MK Dons

Hiram Boateng came through Crystal Palace’s academy with an impressive reputation, having won both the Scholar of the Year and Development Player of the Year award at Selhurst Park. Despite not living up to those lofty expectations, the 25-year-old has successfully established himself at the lower end of the Football League.

Loan spells at Crawley, Plymouth, Bristol Rovers and Northampton preceded a two-year stint at Exeter under Paul Tisdale after leaving the Eagles. He eventually joined up with his former manager at MK Dons, but failed to establish himself as a regular for the Buckinghamshire club.

Another loan spell beckoned in 2020, this time with Cambridge United. Despite a nasty shoulder injury midway through the season, Boateng played a crucial part in the U’s promotion-winning campaign despite failing to score and only managing two assists. Fans have been desperate to see him return on a permanent basis.

They might just get their wish. MK Dons boss Russell Martin has claimed that the midfielder isn’t part of his plans and that there are “numerous” clubs who have enquired about his availability. If a return to The Abbey is on the cards, Bonner will have to move quickly to acquire his services.

Boateng excelled in Cambridge’s 4-4-2 formation last year, and a partnership with defensive midfielder Digby would allow him the freedom to push forward when the U’s are in possession. He suits the free-flowing football that the club have adapted in the last 12 months, and will undoubtedly be near the top of Bonner’s summer shopping list.

Teddy Bishop – Ipswich Town

Much like Boateng, Teddy Bishop hasn’t quite hit the heights that many expected him a few years ago. The 24-year-old has spent his entire career at Ipswich, having started in their academy at just eight years old. But injuries have severely limited his influence at Portman Road, and even cost him the chance to play for England at youth level.

Nonetheless, Bishop has still made over 130 appearances for the Tractor Boys, and that’s not something to be sniffed at, especially since the majority of these have come in the Championship. That sort of experience could be invaluable for Bonner’s squad, many of whom haven’t played any higher than League Two.

Perhaps there are question marks over whether he can handle the high-intensity football that Cambridge have adopted. Above all, Ipswich have largely played with a 4-3-3 formation in the last few years, and playing in a two-man midfield may prove too much. The step up to League One means that that the U’s will face much stronger opponents, and Bishop would be expected to offer significant defensive contribution that he may not be used to.

The midfielder was born in Cambridge, and interest from the U’s could lure him back to his birthplace. A move to The Abbey has been rumoured, but question marks remain as to whether he will be part of Paul Cook’s plans for next season, as Ipswich recently triggered a clause to extend his contract until 2022.

Agreeing a fee may be an issue, especially considering that Ipswich have already sold 21-year-old Jack Lankester to Cambridge and may not be keen to lose any more players from their thin squad. Bishop’s high wages may mean that the U’s enquire about a potential loan move rather than a permanent transfer.

Luke Berry – Luton Town (loan)

Luke Berry divides Cambridge’s fanbase more than anyone else to ever play for the U’s.

The 28-year-old was born in Cambridge and played youth football for Comberton Crusaders and Cambridge City before moving to United’s academy. Breaking into the first team in July 2009, Berry went on to make 128 appearances in four years at The Abbey before earning a transfer to League One club Barnsley.

His spell at Oakwell saw him play consistently despite only scoring once, but the U’s managed to seal his return after just one season, tying him down to a four-year contract. This is when he truly managed to establish himself as top-class talent.

Berry went on to score 29 goals in 94 appearances in his second stint at Cambridge, including an incredible four-goal haul against Coventry in the 2016 FA Cup. Playing in a more advanced role behind the two strikers saw his attacking contributions drastically increase, and interest from big clubs was inevitable.

While Hibernian were reportedly leading the race to sign him, Berry went on to join fellow League Two side Luton Town, a move that angered many of the U’s faithful due to the two clubs’ intense rivalry when in the National League.

Despite breaking his leg against Wycombe in 2018, the midfielder was part of the Hatters’ squad that earned consecutive promotions from League Two and League One. Regular football in the Championship has proven to be a step too far, however, and many supporters think that Berry won’t be in Nathan Jones’ plans for next season.

After all, he didn’t feature in Luton’s 7-0 pre-season win over Hitchin, and the arrivals of Allan Campbell and Henri Lansbury will likely push him further down the pecking order at Kenilworth Road. With his contract set to expire next summer, a loan move may be on the cards if Luton decide against cashing in on him, although they will likely want him playing for one of the bigger third tier clubs.

Berry might be keen on returning home to Cambridge, especially as a platform to play regular football. With Digby playing as the defensive anchor, his preferred role behind the two strikers will likely be available, even if dreams of a return to The Abbey prove to be unrealistic.

Tashan Oakley-Boothe – Stoke City (loan)

Tottenham Hotspur’s academy has produced some incredibly players in recent years, and Tashan Oakley-Boothe has been as highly regarded as any of them. Despite failing to manage a league appearance in North London, he featured various cup competitions before turning down a new contract offer from the club in January 2020.

A move to Stoke followed shortly after, but the 21-year-old has struggled to earn consistent starts in his spell at the Bet365 Stadium, and a back fracture curtailed his 2020/21 campaign in April. Michael O’Neill hopes that he can still become a starter for the Potters, but a loan spell could give him the chance to play regular football.

The youngster operates as a box-to-box midfielder, and is capable of contributing defensively while also posing an attacking threat. Despite having distinguishable qualities to his game, he’s still a raw talent and Bonner’s reputation of developing youth players could make Cambridge an attractive option to develop his skills.

A move to The Abbey would also take Oakley-Boothe closer to home, having been born and raised in South London. However, the Potters clearly rate him highly, and may prefer him to play at a higher level or remain in Staffordshire for the upcoming campaign.

Charlie Owens – QPR (loan)

Unlike Oakley-Boothe, Charlie Owens never managed to make a senior appearance for Tottenham after 13 years in their academy. This ended with a move to QPR, which has been severely hampered due to a recurring knee injury.

The 23-year-old has only played for the West London side three times, making one start and two appearances off the bench in the Carabao Cup. A loan spell at League One side Wycombe was arranged in 2019 which allowed Owens to make his EFL debut, but he ultimately played less than 20 minutes in his time at the club. This saw him drop to the R’s U23 team last season, where he was able to play regular football.

The former Northern Ireland youth international is clearly held in high regard at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, as he was awarded a new one year contract at the start of July. While pre-season will be used as a chance to establish himself in the first team, Mark Warburton may be keen to loan him out to get a consistent run of games in the EFL before stepping up to the Championship.

Once again, Bonner’s reputation of developing young players could make The Abbey an attractive place for the young midfielder to gain experience. He’ll face tough competition from O’Neil and May, but offers a more attack-minded alternative to a U’s midfield which desperately lacks a creative spark.

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