Blackburn Rovers midfielder Lewis Travis is the latest name on Wrexham’s radar as Phil Parkinson considers signings for his engine room.
Wrexham are yet to make a new signing this summer, but the midfield rumours have been stacking up.
Left-footed midfielders appear to be a priority with Tom Cairney reportedly considering an offer from Wrexham.
Lewis O’Brien and Charlie Savage are fellow left-footed options on Wrexham’s radar as Phil Parkinson targets midfielders.
Wolverhampton Wanderers ace Tommy Doyle has been linked with Wrexham as well, though Sunderland and Sheffield United also want him.
The Wrexham Insider understands Lewis Travis is on Wrexham’s wish list, so let’s dig into the Blackburn Rovers midfielder and how his former managers rated him.
What the managers say about Lewis Travis
Travis is a proven Championship player, racking up more than 200 appearances in the second tier.
The 27-year-old spent time in the Liverpool youth ranks as a kid, but has really grown into a reliable midfielder at Blackburn.
Travis has played under a host of managers at Ewood Park, with many of them heaping praise on the Liverpudlian.
“He’s a great boy, he’s a warrior, a soldier who takes responsibility for the team. He’s a team player and you always need that. We have other leaders as well, but the team is number one for Trav. He’s a battler and that’s why I call him a soldier in that sense. He never thinks about himself, he thinks about the togetherness, the spirit and ensures everyone is pushing in the same direction for the club,” – Jon Dahl Tomasson speaking on Blackburn Rovers’ official website after making Travis captain.
“He [Travis] is an outstanding leader. He’s a leader of men. He’s got the respect of the whole building. All the fans love him. I couldn’t wait to start working with him when he came in. I kept in touch with him last season as well, so he knows how important he is to this group. He’s the captain of the football club and you can see his performances getting better and better every game.
“I’m delighted he’s scored a couple of goals (this season) but what he brings to the group is more than just a footballer. He’s a real good leader and a gentleman, and he’s an inspiration for a lot of the boys as well so he’s a very, very good captain,” – Former Blackburn boss John Eustace speaking to Sky Sports.
“He brings a spirit to the team and that’s why he generally plays when he’s available. Trav’s got lots of areas to improve his football but he’s a warrior at heart, he’s made of the right stuff. He wants to win every tackle, every five-a-side and every game. It’s really important to have those ingredients in your football team,” – Tony Mowbray speaking on Blackburn’s official website.
Lewis Travis contract situation could play into Wrexham’s hands
Travis is a battler on the pitch and a great character in the dressing room, which is the exact blend Phil Parkinson is seeking.
Blackburn surely don’t want to lose their captain this summer, but he is out of contract in 2026.
Travis could leave Ewood Park for absolutely nothing next year, and Wrexham could tempt Rovers into a sale this summer.
Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph in March, Travis noted that he would like to stay with Blackburn, but hadn’t been approached about a new deal at that time.
“No, I haven’t,” said Travis when asked if he had held talks with Rovers over a new deal.
“Yeah, of course I would like to stay. I’ve been here most of my footballing career. But yeah, like I said, no one’s said anything to me. That’s football. It is what it is. I think football is football and if it’s not here, it’ll be elsewhere but I’m not focused on that.
“I wouldn’t really want to be talking about contracts at this stage of the season anyway. I think contract talks are best talked out of the playing season. So yeah, let’s just finish this season strong and try to get in the top six and then we’ll take it from there,” he added.
June is here and Travis may now be offered the chance to join this Wrexham project, allowing him to stay close to home and handing him security in terms of his contract.
Travis featured for Ipswich Town in their promotion to the Premier League in 2024 and Parkinson may believe he can make a big impact in Wrexham’s own dreams of reaching the top flight.