Wrexham snapped up Ben Sheaf on transfer deadline day, completing a £6.5million raid on Championship rivals Coventry City.
Phil Parkinson wanted one more midfielder in his Wrexham ranks before the transfer window closed.
George Thomason and Lewis O’Brien had already joined, but Parkinson was still looking for more quality.
West Ham United’s Andy Irving snubbed a move to Wrexham, and Jordan James ended up at Leicester City.
As George Evans headed to Burton Albion, Wrexham managed to secure the signature of Ben Sheaf to bolster Parkinson’s midfield.
EFL pundit raves about Ben Sheaf to Wrexham
Sheaf joined Wrexham from Coventry City, with a deal worth around £6.5million agreed ahead of the deadline.
The former Arsenal talent has established himself as one of the Championship’s top midfielders during his time at Coventry.
Injuries have become a problem for Sheaf, but Wrexham will have confidence in him being a consistent contributor at the STōK Cae Ras.
EFL pundit Guy Branston has now shared his view on Sheaf’s move, while speaking to The Football League Paper (07/09, page 27).
Branston suggested that Wrexham have an ‘unbelievable’ eye for a player, and Sheaf can offer a physical presence in midfield as well as quality on the ball.
The former defender even offered insight into Parkinson’s thinking, having played under the now-Wrexham boss at Bradford City.
Branston claims that Parkinson ‘likes machines’, and he believes Sheaf will be ideal for Wrexham – especially as a ‘level-headed leader’ to cope with the Hollywood hype around Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds.
‘Wrexham have an unbelievable eye for a player and in Ben Sheaf, I think they’ve signed someone with Premier League potential,” said Branston.
“I thought he was brilliant at Arsenal as a kid, and he’s had a really good career in the Championship since joining Coventry – initially on loan – in 2020. He’s just ultra consistent and professional in everything he does. If he’s in a battle and he’s got to scrap, then he’ll be that big, powerful midfielder for the team. He can clear balls, he can tackle, he can put himself about.
“But when he needs to play, he can play and do the whole Arsenal thing. He’s a player who gets the game started from the back and builds up play. Physically, his numbers are very, very good as well, so he’ll fit right in with the way Parkinson wants to play.
“Phil likes machines. He likes them fit; he likes those who can run all day. He likes lads who are going to get on with their jobs and deliver the performance level consistently. That’s his baseline, and he manages from that.
“It requires a very no-frills sort of character, and that’s what Sheaf is. He’s a consistent, level-headed leader – the sort of player you send out and know he’ll put in a 7/10 performance every single game. That’s especially important at Wrexham, with the bandwagon the club is on and all the fanfare that surrounds the Hollywood owners. You need characters who can enjoy that side of things but also ignore it and focus on football,” he added.
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Guy Branston backs Ben Sheaf for the Premier League
Sheaf looks set for a major role at Wrexham, and he would be crucial to any Premier League hopes in the coming years.
Branston now feels that Sheaf could still be a Premier League player – as long as he can avoid more injury problems.
Branston acknowledged that Sheaf will have to win promotion in order to play in the Premier League, but he is ‘ultra professional’ and can still make an impact in the top flight.
“It’s not so long ago that he was being linked with a move to the Premier League, and – fitness permitting – that quality is still there. Don’t get me wrong, he’s spent a long time in the Championship, and he’s at a stage in his career where he’ll need to get promoted and prove himself that way. No top-flight club will take a punt now.
“But if I’m a Premier League manager, he’s the sort of player I’d want in my squad and want around the group because he’s technically sound, he’s ultra professional, and he’s always delivered. Put it this way – I’ve seen a lot worse at that level,” he added.
That certainly sounds like the kind of player Wrexham are looking for, and Parkinson will have confidence that the £6.5million deal for Sheaf will be money well spent.