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Wrexham Set To Wheel and Deal With Jordan James on Their Minds

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson (centre)

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson (centre)

The transfer window closes on Monday night. Ian Mitchelmore examines Wrexham's transfer activity so far and where the club might still try to strenghthen.

 

Just the 10 new faces have made their way through the doors of the Stok Cae Ras' reception since Wrexham secured promotion from League One in April.

All but one of those summer recruits have made their debut for the club - with midfielder George Thomason the only man not to do so, given he is continuing his recovery from a thigh injury.

Nevertheless, Phil Parkinson still remains eager to add to his options prior to Monday's transfer deadline.

Wales midfielder Jordan James - currently at French side Rennes - is among those who could join his international team-mates Kieffer Moore, Danny Ward and Nathan Broadhead in sealing a switch to the Red Dragons in the coming days.

The former Birmingham City man is among a number of central midfielders - including West Ham's Andy Irving - to have been linked with a move to Wrexham of late.

It was perhaps telling that Parkinson - who has confirmed the club's interest in James - made wholesale changes to his squad for Tuesday night's EFL Cup second round win against Preston.

The 57-year-old selected an entirely different 11 to the one that started the 2-2 draw with Sheffield Wednesday in north Wales three days earlier.

It meant the visitors boasted an entirely new midfield that consisted of club icon Elliot Lee and academy product Harry Ashfield playing either side of George Evans in the middle of the park.

With Matty James, George Dobson and summer signing Lewis O'Brien also in their ranks, Parkinson certainly has plenty of options at his disposal.

READ MORE: Wrexham Swagger and Kieffer Moore Power is Winning Combo for Phil Parkinson

But he ruled out the possibility of a loan exit for 19-year-old Ashfield - who netted his second senior goal for the club in the entertaining 3-2 win over Preston.

There could be more re-jigging to do over the coming days - particularly if James does return to these shores following his year on the Continent.

And exits could well be vital in the near future.

Just hours before the contest against the Lilywhites in midweek, Wrexham announced Jack Marriott - scorer of five goals in 27 appearances with the Welsh side - had signed a three-year deal with League One Reading.

The writing also appears to be on the wall for striker Ollie Palmer after his omission from the matchday squad at Preston - despite the fact he netted two last-gasp goals to help Wrexham beat Hull in the first round of the EFL Cup.

His former club Wimbledon are among those thought to be interested in a move for Palmer - who is now in the final year of his deal with the Red Dragons.

READ MORE: Kieffer Moore Backs New Strike Partnership with Nathan Broadhead to Fire Wrexham Forward

One man whose future now seems somewhat uncertain is Jacob Mendy.

Throughout the summer, Parkinson has suggested that the Gambian would be allowed to leave in some capacity, although he played from the outset in Lancashire as Wrexham booked their place in the third round of the EFL Cup for the first time since the 1981-82 season.

Another factor that has almost certainly come into the thinking of Parkinson - and that of Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney - of late will be the impending returns of several players.

Left-back Liberato Cacace could be involved against Millwall on Saturday having missed the last three matches in all competitions with a hamstring complaint while Nathan Broadhead's calf issue isn't thought to be serious.

READ MORE: Wrexham are Read all Over the World and Their Start is not Black and White

Thomason and Josh Windass are also expected to return shortly after the international break while striker Jay Rodriguez and midfielders Ollie Rathbone and Andy Cannon are further back in their progress.

So the squad numbers may well need to be trimmed, and they almost certainly will be in the days after the final game before the international break against Millwall at The Den this weekend.

And with the highest net spend of any side in the Championship, the pressure will be well and truly on Wrexham to deliver following what has been a testing start to the league campaign. 

 

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