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Joe Uglow – @joe_ugs

Joe delves into his next transfer speculation piece for 2026!

Jimmy Ball is ready to shake up the Torquay United squad and make us a tougher proposition for 2026/27, let’s have a look at some players who could be on his radar in the coming weeks!

CAM HARGREAVES

An obvious connection to the club through his dad who hinted that a move may be on the cards on social media, in the run-up to our Play-off Final. That move may have depended on promotion but if we were to entice the combative midfielder down to TQ1 it would be seen as a coup. 45 appearances at the level above last season probably indicates that he’s looking to stay in the National League, but his hard work and energy would probably be a final piece to our central midfield jigsaw.

STATS – POSITION: MIDFIELD – DOB: 01/12/98 – NL STATS 25/26: APPEARANCES 42, GOALS 3, ASSISTS 1, YELLOW/RED CARDS 6/1

AARON JARVIS

If Deon Moore isn’t to sign for us again this summer then don’t be surprised if Aaron Jarvis heads back to Plainmoor. We remain the only club where he’s really kicked on and looked at home at and so he may welcome a return to familiar surroundings. Many Gulls fans were left with a lasting memory of Jarvis seemingly downing tools towards the end of his plainmoor career so he will need to get back in many fans good books, if he is to sign.

STATS – POSITION: STRIKER – DOB: 24/01/98 – NL STATS 25/26: APPEARANCES 32, GOALS 3, ASSISTS 1, YELLOW/RED CARDS 10/1

SAM GERMAN

Sam impressed me on loan for Salisbury the season before last and followed up last season with a successful promotion campaign at the level below with Folkestone Invicta. The 21 year old ball playing centre half would be a decent replacement for Sam Dreyer if he did move on this summer, and is a free agent having been released by Bromley.

STATS – POSITION: CENTRE BACK – DOB: 07/05/05 – STATS 25/26: UNKNOWN

ETHAN SILLS

Two connections here which may see Ethan heading down to Plainmoor. Firstly he is the son of Tim, our former Striker and secondly he’s a Bournemouth Youth graduate, where Jimmy Ball has extensive links. The central midfielder joined AFC Bournemouth as a seven-year-old, and made his debut for the U-18s at just 14. Ethan became the youngest player to score for the U-18s when he found the net at just 14 years and 358 days, finishing the season with nine goals and an assist as the Cherries finished fifth in their first year in the Professional Development League.

He enjoyed his first taste of senior football last season, on loan at the side his Dad manages; Step 3 side Wimborne Town, scoring once and claiming two assists in his ten game loan spell. It may be asking a lot for him to come on loan and have an impact at the top of the NLS but there’s no doubt that Bournemouth rate him highly.

STATS – POSITION: MIDFIELD – DOB: 18/10/07 – PL CUP STATS 25/26: APPEARANCES 7, GOALS 1, ASSISTS 3, YELLOW/RED CARD 0/0

SAM PEARSON

Released by Eastleigh after following his former manager to the Silverlake Stadium, Pearson has been on the radar of TUFC for a while now.

Heavily rumoured to have been in the building prior to deciding that Weston-Super-Mare was closer to his Cardiff home, Pearson was again linked with the club before he joined Dorking Wanderers on loan in February. Pearson would have seen first hand during the play-offs the scale of the opportunity there is at Plainmoor, with crowds far surpassing what he’s been used to at Weston, Eastleigh or Dorking and that may well sway him to sign on the dotted line at the third attempt. A winger who gets down the sides of the box with bags of pace is something we’ve lacked and Pearson would certainly fit the bill. Jimmy Ball is bound to be an admirer but I expect we will face stiff competition from other NLS clubs.

STATS – POSITION: WINGER – DOB: 26/10/01 – NLS STATS 25/26: APPEARANCES 22, GOALS 7, ASSISTS 2, YELLOW/RED CARDS 3/0