Ben Sheaf arrived at Wrexham on deadline day, with the Dragons getting through a £6.5m deal in the final hours of the summer transfer window.
On deadline day alone, Wrexham signed three new players. Across the course of the summer transfer window, Phil Parkinson managed to bring 13 new faces to the Racecourse, and Ben Sheaf might well prove to be one of his best signings.
The experienced Championship player leaves Coventry City to move to Wrexham. Along with Sheaf, his former Coventry team-mate Dom Hyam joined Wrexham from Blackburn Rovers on deadline day, whilst Wrexham completed a loan deal for Issa Kabore at Man City.
Expect the 27-year-old Sheaf to slot straight into the midfield, at the expense of one of Matty James or George Dobson. Whilst harsh for whoever loses out, Sheaf brings definite quality and Championship experience to the side, and Parkinson will be delighted with the addition.
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Arsene Wenger thought very highly of Wrexham new boy Ben Sheaf
Sheaf actually began his career with West Ham. He joined the Hammers at the age of 13, but then quickly linked up with Arsenal in 2014, at the age of 16. Sheaf would go on to spend three years in the Gunners set-up, making three first team appearances for the side, even playing in the UEFA Europa League during a 1-0 victory over Red Star Belgrade back in October 2017.
Although Sheaf has since made his career in the Football League with Coventry City, he did once catch the attention of former Gunners manager Arsene Wenger. Speaking in May 2017, Wenger spoke highly of Sheaf and what he’d seen of the midfielder, who was actually a defender at the time.
Wenger said: “He’s always ahead of the game and his anticipation quality is absolutely huge. He has that kind of mental strength as well. A typical British way of handling things, facing the difficulties with a very cool and intelligent way.
“There is something in him that I believe will allow him to progress always. Because he analyses well what’s happening to him, he assesses well what is going on and that’s why I believe he will have a good career.”
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How will Wrexham’s midfield look when everyone is fully fit?
The midfield department is arguably Parkinson’s most in-depth and exciting after the summer transfer window. Expect Sheaf to slot into the starting XI when he’s ready to do so, alongside fellow summer signing Lewis O’Brien. And should Parkinson maintain a central midfield then the final midfield spot will be hotly contested.
There are a number of players who will be vying for that position, including the likes of Elliot Lee, who seems to be out of contention, Dobson, and Ollie Rathbone who remains injured. Whilst one or two players may become frustrated with the lack of game time, it’s great for Parkinson to have such depth and such quality in certain areas of the pitch.
Sheaf and O’Brien bring a huge amount of Championship experience to a side that was lacking it at the start of the summer. And elsewhere on the pitch there is also newfound quality, which will hopefully serve Wrexham well going further into the Championship campaign.