George Bennett comment: Walsall left short in attack at the end of summer rebuild

The 7pm deadline had long gone when Walsall teased of a 14th and final signing. 

This was the moment where many suspected a new centre-forward would be walking through the door, especially in the wake of Josh Gordon's departure to Barrow on loan. 

Instead, Rico Richards, a predominant attacking midfielder or wide man, signed on loan from local rivals Port Vale, completed the Saddlers' business. 

Short up top 

Richards arrives with good pedigree having won promotions to League One in each of his last two loan spells at Stockport County and Port Vale respectively. 

The issue is not the arrival of the player himself, but the fact that Sadler was unable to bolster his attacking ranks. 

Aaron Pressley and Daniel Kanu look a bright attacking partnership, while questions marks remains over alternative options such as Jamille Matt and Albert Adomah. 

Walsall and the recruitment team did very well to replace Jonny Stuttle so quickly following his recall by Bournemouth, but there was always the sense one more striker would come on board. 

It's left them very thin on the ground in the final third and an injury to either Pressley or Kanu could quite easily lead to an attacking crisis.

Long-term build

It's been a chaotic summer for Walsall with 14 new faces (excluding Jonny Stuttle who was recalled) and a further 11 leaving through the exit door. 

Losing star man Taylor Allen was a blow, while the likes of Liam Gordon and Ryan Stirk rejected contracts offers for pastures new. 

Walsall ended last season with no fewer than 13 players out of contract and Sadler has clearly implemented the lessons learned by handing out long-term deals this summer. 

Harrison Burke and Pressley have signed until 2028, with former including an option year, and Mason Hancock and Courtney Clarke have penned two-year deals, also with an option.

Vincent Harper, Lewis Warrington and Jake Hollman have penned deals until 2027, meaning Walsall have 10 players currently contracted until the end of next season. 

Aden Flint boosts promotion chances 

Aden Flint has been perhaps the standout performer for Walsall since joining on a free transfer. It was a smart piece of business for Walsall, who offloaded Dave Okagbue for a six-figure sum to Peterborough, and signed the 6ft 6in centre-back as a replacement.

The 36-year-old has been a calming and seemingly impenetrable force in the heart of defence and clearly has an infectious impact on the likes of Burke, Evan Weir, Lewis Warrington, and goalkeeper Myles Roberts.

With five promotions in his CV, Flint knows what it takes to get to the division above, and he is likely to play a decisive role if Walsall are fighting at the top end of League Two again this season.

A growing scouting network 

The signing of Hollman from Macarthur FC in the A-League was a particularly interesting piece of business. 

Time will tell whether it proves to be a success, but it at least serves as an illustration of the club's growing scouting network under Trivela. 

Sadler himself confirmed that data played a key role in bringing Hollman to England, but they have also been shrewd in bringing hidden gems such as Burke, Clarke and Hancock on board. 

The latter might be side lined for the next "four to six months" with a dislocated knee, but there is no reason why he won't have a big role to play for Walsall once he returns.