The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Prolific striker a priority as part of Dens squad rebuild
Dundee boss Neil Mccann has already added four new faces this summer in the shape of midfielders Elton Ngwatala and Kharl Madianga, leftback Nathan Ralph and goalie Jack Hamilton.
The manager always keeps his cards close to his chest when it comes to signing targets and he is unlikely to reveal what position he will look to fill next but it does not require a crystal ball to predict that a striker will be top of his agenda.
The Dark Blues received plenty of plaudits for their attractive style of play last season but there was a sense of frustration on more than one occasion that they could not finish off what they had started by hitting the back of the net.
Dundee scored 36 times in 38 Premiership games with only relegated Partick Thistle netting fewer – indeed, rock bottom Ross County’s final tally was 40.
Mccann’s top scorer last season was Sofien Moussa with 12 although four of those came against lower league opposition in the Betfred Cup and the big Tunisian did not score from open play in the Premiership until April 1 against Hearts.
The 29-year-old then hit a vital double against St Johnstone after the split to secure a priceless three points for Dundee.
There were times when Moussa did so much right last season, only for his final touch to let him down but Mccann will no doubt hope he will hit the ground running in the next campaign having finally acclimatised to the game in this country.
Of the other strikers, A-jay Leitchsmith scored seven after joining on loan from Shrewsbury Town in August but was not offered a permanent contract at the end of the season.
Marcus Haber netted twice with his campaign ending early in February as he underwent surgery on a back problem.
The big Canadian international still has another year left on his deal at Dens but he has never been what could be called a prolific scorer.
Faissal El Bakhtaoui netted five times but infuriates and thrills in equal measure. The 25-year-old is capable of scoring spectacular goals, but all too often his composure deserts him when presented with easier opportunities.
Mccann looked to add more goals to his side in January with the loan signing of Simon Murray from Hibs with Scott Allan moving in the opposite direction.
The striker had already scored 14 times for Neil Lennon’s side before his move to Dens and it looked like a sound piece of business by the Dark Blues boss.
Murray did net a further three times for the team he had supported as a boy but it would be fair to say that he often looked like he was simply trying too hard and it just didn’t happen for him in a Dundee shirt.
Murray has returned to Easter Road while Dundee have also lost midfielder Mark O’hara – who netted six times last season – to Peterborough.
Craig Wighton can also play up front but Mccann has mostly utilised him in the wide positions while kids like Matty Henvey and Cedwyn Scott show promise but lack experience.
So, there is no doubting that Mccann would like to add more firepower.
In a recent interview I did with the club’s managing director John Nelms, he admitted the club are determined to add more goals to the team and they are willing to pay a transfer fee to do it. That is easier said than done.
The Dark Blues have already been credited with an interest in Leyton Orient striker Macauley Bonne who netted 22 times for the National League club last season.
However, other sides down south are also hot on the trail of the top prospect and it is unlikely Dundee could come close to matching the wages they might offer.
Mccann is still fully capable of pulling another rabbit out of the hat as he did with the signing of midfielder Glen Kamara.
Whether he can do the same with a proven goalscorer may ultimately determine if Dundee can realise their top six ambitions next season.