Steve Davis says he is aiming to take his midfield into a different direction

Steve Davis has announced that he is prepared to let the combative Anthony Grant leave this summer because he wants to entice ball playing midfield players into the club. The Alex boss is aiming to have his Crewe Alexandra side playing more of a passing game in midfield next season and he has highlighted the need for two midfield players as his number one priority this summer.

Grant is out of contract this summer and Davis has already admitted that it is ‘unlikely' that we can improve his current terms. Davis is accepting that the Londoner will want to move on and will use that to take his midfield into a different direction.

Steve told us: “We need two new midfield players. That is my number one priority this summer. We only have James Jones and Chris Atkinson as midfield players with any real League experience and Chris was injured towards the end of the season, so we would like two new ones at least.

  “I think this group is better than the one that started the season, especially if Ryan (Colclough) and Matt (Tootle) sign their new contracts and remain fit. We missed them for the majority of last season.

“I think we will have a better starting point but we would like to add more quality and I want footballers, who are comfortable on the ball. I want them to manipulate the ball and want to get on the ball and pass it. If we can couple that with some athleticism as well then that would be a huge bonus.

“I want us playing more football and the midfield engine room to control the games more and produce more energy in there. We have found it hard to replace the likes of Westy and Murph but that is what we will try and do.

“If you have quality footballers, who are comfortable on the ball then it doesn’t matter what system you play. They can adapt and we will try and take the midfield into a different direction. “