Huddersfield Town are preparing for a third straight season in League One after falling short in their bid for promotion this year, and attention at the ACCU Stadium has already turned toward rebuilding for the upcoming campaign.
The 2025/26 season has been one to forget for the West Yorkshire side, with very few positives emerging from a turbulent year both on and off the pitch.
There was a strong sense of optimism when Lee Grant was appointed head coach. The former Manchester United and Derby County goalkeeper arrived with an impressive reputation after serving as part of Kieran McKenna’s coaching staff at Ipswich Town, where he played a role in guiding the club from League One to the Premier League through consecutive promotions.
Huddersfield supporters hoped Grant could help spark a similar transformation at the Terriers, but the project failed to gain momentum. Results and performances did not meet expectations, leading to his dismissal in January. The club then turned to former Bristol City and Norwich City manager Liam Manning, although his spell was disrupted by compassionate leave due to personal circumstances before he eventually departed the club altogether.
As things stand, appointing a new manager remains Huddersfield’s immediate priority. Once that decision is made, the club’s focus will inevitably shift toward summer recruitment, where they may have an opportunity to exploit uncertainty surrounding Stoke City’s attacking department by revisiting interest in striker Nathan Lowe.
Although Huddersfield currently possess several forward options, none have convincingly established themselves as the club’s undisputed first-choice striker. Alfie May arrived from Birmingham City last summer with a strong reputation after years of prolific scoring in League One, while Dion Charles, Rhys Healey, and Bojan Radulovic have also featured among the attacking choices.
Additional reinforcements came during the January transfer window, with Bobby Wales joining on loan from Swansea City and Ryan Hardie arriving from Wrexham. However, both players are expected to return to their parent clubs, leaving uncertainty over who will spearhead Huddersfield’s attack next season.
Whoever takes charge of the Terriers ahead of the new campaign will need to make key decisions regarding the club’s frontline, and Nathan Lowe should undoubtedly be among the names considered.
The Stoke City striker enjoyed a breakthrough spell at Walsall during the first half of the 2024/25 campaign, producing an impressive return of 15 goals and five assists in just 22 league appearances before Stoke opted to recall him in January. Despite his strong form, opportunities at the bet365 Stadium proved limited.
Since then, Lowe has spent time on loan at both Stockport County and Wycombe Wanderers in League One, where he has continued to demonstrate his ability by scoring seven goals across 31 appearances.
Huddersfield had previously been linked with the 20-year-old before his temporary switch to Stockport, according to reports from Alan Nixon, and they should seriously consider reviving that pursuit this summer.
Stoke’s current striker situation could potentially work in Huddersfield’s favour. The Potters already have Robert Bozenik, Sam Gallagher, Emre Tezgel, and Milan Smit under contract, with Smit’s loan move from Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles recently becoming permanent in a deal reportedly worth around £4.8 million.
Because Lowe remains tied to Stoke until 2028, his long-term future is still uncertain, and it is unclear whether he will feature prominently in their plans next season.
Bozenik is expected to remain an important part of Stoke’s squad following his move from Boavista last year, while Sam Gallagher’s reported £25,000-per-week wages could make him difficult to move on. Tezgel impressed during a loan spell at Crewe Alexandra but may not yet be ready for regular Championship football, while Smit will likely be eager to justify his sizeable transfer fee after a relatively quiet start to life in English football.
Given the crowded competition for places, Lowe could become available either on loan or through a permanent transfer, and Huddersfield should be prepared to move quickly if the opportunity arises.
After ending the season in ninth place — eight points outside the play-off positions — Huddersfield’s campaign has fallen well below expectations, especially considering many viewed them as promotion contenders at the start of the year.
Manning’s departure may have added further instability, but it also gives the club an opportunity to reset and build a clearer long-term strategy. The next managerial appointment will therefore be crucial.
A busy summer lies ahead, with significant changes expected within the playing squad. Huddersfield’s hierarchy must ensure that any rebuild strengthens the team rather than weakening it further.
Securing a player like Nathan Lowe would represent a major statement of ambition from the Terriers and could provide the attacking spark they have lacked throughout the season. If the opportunity presents itself, Huddersfield should do everything possible to complete the deal quickly.
