Walsall

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Walsall head coach Lee Grant says he is "not there yet" as far as strengthening the squad to his satisfaction before the start of the new season.

The Saddlers have brought in nine players with defenders Ryan Leak and Declan Skura the latest to arrive at the Pallet-Track Stadium this week.

Both started Tuesday's friendly defeat by Aston Villa, along with goalkeeper Jed Ward, midfielders Sven Sprangler and Isaac Moore and striker Andrew Dallas.

Grant is preparing for his first campaign in charge after replacing Mat Sadler in May and has promised Walsall will approach League Two with positive, attacking football.

As for how his squad was shaping up personnel-wise, Grant said there was still work to do.

"For me, we're still not there and we're still not close," he told BBC Radio WM.

"If you just look at the numbers of what's gone out as to what's come in, we're not there yet.

"The most important thing for us is bringing in players that can impact the group and impact the quality and have a real claim for being in the starting XI.

"We do not want to bring bodies in for the sake of bringing bodies in. We want to bring good quality players in that can help us this year and that's what we're looking to do."

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Aston Villa eased to an opening friendly win of pre-season, hammering Walsall 5-0.

New signing Joao Gomes made his debut as 23 players were used by Unai Emery at the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium.

Brian Madjo's found the net twice in the opening half, either side of a George Hemmings' finish. Under-21 players Luka Lynch and Aidan Borland struck after the interval.

Villa take on Porto in Portugal on Saturday and then meet Real Sociedad at the Bescot Stadium on Tuesday 28 July.

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Walsall have continued their summer recruitment drive under head coach Lee Grant with deals for defenders Ryan Leak and Declan Skura.

Leak, 28, joins on a permanent deal after a trial period having been without a club since leaving Scottish Premiership club Ross County last summer.

He has had spells in the English Football League with Salford, reaching the League Two play-offs in 2022-23, Burton Albion and has also played in Spain.

His deal with the Saddlers is for one year with the club having an option to extend it by another 12 months.

Joining Leak at the Pallet-Track Stadium is Wycombe defender Declan Skura, who arrives on a season-long loan.

The 24-year-old has made 12 appearances in League One over the past two seasons, including four towards the end of 2025-26 which brought him his first goal - against champions Lincoln City - in the penultimate game of the campaign.

He also had a loan spell in the National League with Yeovil Town last term after his initial taste of non-league football with Ebbsfleet in his debut season in 2023-24.

Skura and Leak take Walsall's summer signings to nine following the arrivals of goalkeeper Jed Ward, defender James Connolly, midfielders Sven Sprangler, Lewis Simper and Isaac Moore and forwards Tai Sodje and Andy Dallas.

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