“His age isn’t a huge problem if we’re only using him effectively for one season to get us out of League One, there’s no doubt he could do a job there”- Huddersfield urged to beat Stoke to signing of highly experienced Burnley striker on a free this summer

Huddersfield Town are preparing for life in League One after their relegation from the Championship.

It was a turbulent season for the Terriers, and after the sackings of both Neil Warnock and Darren Moore, Andre Breitenreiter was tasked with keeping the club in the second tier when he took charge in February.

Breinreiter made a strong start to his reign, but Town’s form soon declined, and the German was unable to prevent his side’s relegation as they finished 23rd in the table, six points from safety.

Just days after the end of the season, Breitenreiter left the club by mutual content, and the Terriers have appointed former Barnsley and Swansea City boss Michael Duff as his replacement. Duff had been out of work since being dismissed by Swansea in December after a disappointing stint in South Wales, but he has an excellent track record in League One, and he led Barnsley to the play-off final during his last season as a manager at the level.

It seems that Duff is already identifying summer transfer targets, and according to journalist Alan Nixon, Town are interested in signing Burnley striker Jay Rodriguez.

Rodriguez scored two goals and provided one assist in 24 appearances in all competitions this season as the Clarets were relegated from the Premier League, and his contract at Turf Moor expires this summer. Burnley have offered Rodriguez a new deal, but the 34-year-old is attracting attention from elsewhere, with Stoke City also set to battle for his signature.

Huddersfield Town fan pundit reacts to Jay Rodriguez links

FLW’s Huddersfield Town fan pundit Graeme Rayner says Rodriguez would be an excellent signing for the Terriers in League One, but he believes it could be difficult for Town to win the race for the striker ahead of Championship clubs.

“Jay Rodriguez has got pedigree, he’s a really good player,” Graeme told FLW.

“His age isn’t a huge problem if we’re only using him effectively for one season to get us out of League One, and there’s no doubt he could do a job there.

“Whether he would come or not, I don’t know. If he would come on a one-year deal or not, I don’t know.

“I wouldn’t offer him a two-year deal, maybe a year with an option, but his age really doesn’t have to be an issue in League One I don’t think.

“He played 20 games or more in the Premier League this year, four seasons out of the last five he’s been in the Premier League with Burnley, played a lot of games in that time, so clearly he’s capable.

“I wouldn’t be against it, I know we’re up against Stoke, and he’s probably more likely to want to go there I would have thought, but does he want a season battling around the lower end of the Championship or does he want to go to League One and maybe win a title?

“I wouldn’t be against it, as long as it’s not seen as any kind of long-term solution because that would be a bit ridiculous.”

It is difficult to disagree that Rodriguez would be a great signing for Huddersfield in League One, and it would be a big statement of intent from the club.

Rodriguez may not have had his most prolific season for Burnley in the Premier League this campaign, but he played a crucial role for the Clarets as they won the Championship title in 2022-23, scoring 10 goals in 29 games, and he still has a lot to offer.

There is no doubt that Rodriguez would be a huge asset at League One level, and as the likes of Sheffield Wednesday and Derby County have shown in recent years, recruiting experienced players can be a good formula for success in the third tier.

It may be difficult for the Terriers to compete with Burnley’s contract offer or the wages that Stoke would be able to pay, but Rodriguez and Duff are former team-mates, and that could help to convince the striker to make the move to the John Smith’s Stadium.