Connor Barrett conundrum and three other decisions for Walsall to tackle

Lee Grant will be braced for a busy summer ahead of his first season as Walsall head coach.

There is of course the task of rebuilding the squad, but there are a number of other loose ends which need to be tied up in the imminent future.

Here are four pressing areas which need to be addressed.

Connor Barrett conundrum

Barrett has just 12 months left on his deal after a season, which saw him fall out of favour under both Mat Sadler and interim head coach Darren Byfield.

The 24-year-old, who hit double figures for assists in 2024-25, started his second season at Walsall with three goals in his first 11 games.

However, Barrett started just two of the Saddlers’ final 17 games in League Two, which has cast doubt over his future.

Since, he has been linked with a move away from the report - with Wigan Athletic reportedly winning the race for his signature.

Contract negotiations

Walsall are in contract talks with Albert Adomah and Rico Browne - with both of their deals expiring on June 30 as it stands.

Browne has been offered a new deal by the club, although reports elsewhere have claimed that proposal has been rebuffed.

Those reports remain unconfirmed by the club who remain in discussions with the young defender.

But Adomah - who turns 39 in December - should be the priority if there is a choice between the two, after scoring eight goals of last season.

Picking new captain

In the wake of Jamille Matt’s departure, Walsall will need to appoint a new club captain.

Alex Pattison has all the ingredients required to lead with the armband - while 38-year-old Albert Adomah could be another option if he signs a new deal.

The current squad is otherwise bereft of seniority and experience, but Grant could also consider handing the captaincy to one of the future summer recruits.

Pre-season plans

Walsall are yet to announce any fixtures for pre-season, although an announcement could be made as early as this week.

They started pre-season on the second weekend of July last year and it is likely to be a similar timeframe ahead of the new season.

The Carabao Cup first round will precede the start of the League Two season - with the ties to be played over the weekend of 7-9 August.

Fixtures for the 2026-27 season will be announced on June 25.