New-look midfield on cards for Dee?

DunDee have made a nice early start to their transfer dealings this summer but do their signings suggest there will be a new-look midfield in place next season?

This time last year, Neil McCann wasn’t even in place as full-time manager so the club couldn’t exactly start dishing out contracts to new boys.

So that shows the Dark Blues are further along with their planning this time around, which is a good sign.

Whether Elton Ngwatala and Kharl Madianga are able to make the step up from their previous clubs we just don’t know until they’re out on the pitch.

Word from down Kidderminster way is that Ngwatala is a player that’ll get fans off their seats and likes to entertain (see p36). Similar to Roarie Deacon in a lot of ways, someone who can play behind the striker or wide and can beat a man.

Deacon still has to win over some fans at Dundee and next season will be a huge one for him. I’m a fan and think he gives the team an extra dimension, he just needs to add some goals to his game.

Hopefully, Ngwatala can be a spark next season, might take some time, though.

As for his fellow-Frenchman Madianga, it’s a case of wait and see.

By his Youtube highlights reel, he looks a bit like Glen Kamara in style, nice on the ball and starts attacks from the middle of the park.

That might just mean Dundee are preparing for the Finn’s departure this summer.

I’d be amazed if there are no bids for his services from bigger clubs – he’s good enough for the English Premier League in my eyes.

The more that happens, too, the more players like Kamara who have been discarded by big clubs see Dundee as a place to make their name.

As for the others in the usual midfield last season, Mark O’Hara is almost certainly heading down south at the end of his contract while Paul McGowan has some off-field things to deal with.

Unfortunately the middle of the park was the part of the team that worked best for Dundee last campaign and it looks like they’ll have to start again with it.

The biggest job, however, remains to find a goalscorer. That’ll be the difference for Dundee.

Both Glen Kamara and Mark O’Hara could be off to pastures new by the start of next season.