Five defenders Cambridge United could sign to improve their feeble squad depth

While Mark Bonner has made it clear that signing a midfielder will be Cambridge’s priority, the club’s threadbare defence needs addressing as soon as possible.

The U’s have just two senior centre-backs under contract for the upcoming season: club captain Greg Taylor and new arrival Lloyd Jones. Defensive midfielder Paul Digby can drop into that position if required, but his presence in midfield would be sorely missed.

The club are also scarce of options at right-back following the departure of Kyle Knoyle to Doncaster Rovers. George Williams looks to be his replacement, arriving from Bristol Rovers with extensive League One experience and the ability to cover at centre-back if needed. Leon Davies is his closest competition, but the 21-year-old faces an extended period on the sidelines following hip surgery.

Luckily, the U’s have a number of options at left-back, with Harrison Dunk and Jack Iredale set to compete for a starting spot, but the lack of depth across the rest of the back line will be a worrying sight for Cambridge fans.

Here are five players the club could target to bolster their defensive options before the 2021/22 season begins.

Jubril Okedina – Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs youngster Jubril Okedina is already a familiar face for Cambridge United fans. The 20-year-old centre-back spent the second half of last season on loan at The Abbey, making 14 appearances as the U’s went on to secure automatic promotion.

In fact, Okedina’s first taste of senior football came in Cambridge’s Papa John’s Trophy clash away at Oxford United in January 2021. While his side slumped to a 1-0 defeat that evening, Bonner would probably be keen on having the defender in his squad when he faces Karl Robinson’s men once again in their opening League One fixture on August 7th.

For such a young and inexperienced player, Okedina was a calming presence in the U’s backline during their promotion run-in, especially in their convincing 3-0 win against Grimsby on the final day which secured a return to the third tier.

Moving up to League One seems to be the natural next step for him, even if he faces tough competition to start over Taylor and Jones. A permanent move would undoubtedly be out of the question, but Bonner’s experience of working with young players should encourage Spurs to agree to another loan spell.

That being said, Okedina has been training with the Spurs first team following the arrival of new manager Nuno Espírito Santo, and the club may have higher aspirations for him than a return to Cambridgeshire.

Josh Pask – Coventry City

Cambridge fans are already familiar with Coventry defender Declan Drysdale, who spent the latter half of last season on loan at The Abbey after being recalled from his spell at Gillingham.

The 21-year-old could be in line for a return to The Abbey, with a first team place at the Ricoh Arena looking increasingly unlikely. However, his underwhelming performances in League One may encourage the U’s to look for someone else, such as his teammate Josh Pask.

The West Ham academy graduate made 17 Championship appearances for the Sky Blues last season, although his run of games was hampered by an ankle injury early into the campaign. He regularly featured towards the run-in, playing as a centre-back and a right wing-back in Coventry’s five-man defence.

Pask has previous experience in League One, having played a bit-part role in Gillingham’s 2016/17 campaign. Fans are unsure whether he will remain in the first team next season, but the departure of loanee Leo Østigård back to parent club Brighton does leave Mark Robins short of defensive options.

A loan move to Cambridge would bring Pask closer to home and give him more first-team opportunities. His versatility to play at centre-back and right-back would provide a huge boost to the U’s squad depth, and at just 23-years-old, Bonner can still help with his development as a player.

Aaron Hayden – Carlisle United

Former Chelsea youth player Aaron Hayden has had to work incredibly hard for an opportunity to play in the Football League. Having left West London for Wolves in 2013, the centre-back faced numerous loan spells at non-league clubs before being released in 2019.

A successful trial at Carlisle saw him move to Brunton Park that summer, quickly establishing himself as a regular starter for the League Two outfit. While the Cumbrians ultimately fell short of a place in the play-offs, Hayden appeared in all but two of his side’s league games last season.

Carlisle triggered a one-year extension for the 24-year-old this summer, meaning that a potential move will hinge on agreeing to a fee with the club. That doesn’t rule out a move this summer, however, as Chris Beech may prefer to get a transfer fee for the defender rather than letting him leave for free next year.

Hayden’s versatility would be the main attraction for Bonner. While he favours playing as a centre-back, he’s also capable of playing in a three-man defence or as a right-back, much like Pask. That flexibility could encourage the U’s to make a move, especially given their lack of depth in those positions.

Having been born in London, the chance for Hayden to move closer to home and to test himself in League One may be enough to convince him to move to The Abbey, even if he faces tough competition for a starting spot.

Elvis Bwomono – Southend United

When Southend were flying high in League One, Elvis Bwomono was regarded as one of the biggest talents in the Football League. A rapid decline has now seen the Shrimpers drop into non-league, and the 22-year-old will surely be set to depart the club.

Bwomono has an impressive resumé for such a young player, having featured in 75 League One games since breaking into Southend’s first team in 2017. Unsurprisingly, a number of clubs have registered their interest in the right-back, who failed to report for pre-season training at Roots Hall this summer.

Now out of contract, the Ugandan international will be keen to find a new team ahead of the upcoming campaign. One of the main hurdles will be the transfer fee, as the player is under the age of 23 and therefore cannot leave the club for free.

While the majority of clubs linked with Bwomono find themselves in League Two, a return to the third tier with Cambridge may appeal to the right-back, even if he faces fierce competition with Williams for a place in the starting lineup.

His immense potential will appeal to Bonner, who may see his signature as a chance to find a more like-for-like replace for Knoyle. However, his attitude and application have been questioned throughout last season, and the U’s may be put off by the way he’s treated the Shrimpers in the last few months.

Fin Stevens – Brentford B

18-year-old Fin Stevens is arguably the least well-known name on this list, but his immense potential will likely appeal to a number of clubs in the lower ends of the Football League.

The right-back spent 10 years in Arsenal’s academy before being released in 2019. Rather than giving up on his football career, he moved to Isthmian League Premier Division club Worthing, scoring once in 20 appearances for the Rebels before the season was curtailed due to Covid.

His hard work was rewarded with a two-year contract offer from Brentford, who initially recruited him for their B team ahead of the 2020/21 campaign. He was quickly promoted into the senior squad, making his debut for the club in a 3-0 win over Fulham.

The youngster was regularly brought into the first team as an unused substitute, including in the club’s play-off final win over Swansea. With the Bees now approaching the first top-flight season in their history, he may find his opportunities in West London to be severely limited.

Clearly, Stevens is in need of regular football. While Brentford B can offer that, Thomas Frank may prefer the Wales under-21 international to gain more EFL experience. With Leon Davies likely ruled out until January, a six-month loan deal may be a good move for both parties.

Cambridge are set to face Brentford B in a friendly game in St Neots on July 23rd, and this may be a good chance to scout the youngster when facing the U’s senior team. Competing with Williams for a starting spot at right-back would be highly beneficial for his development, as would working under Bonner at The Abbey.

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