Wrexham snapped up a new goalkeeper on Monday evening – and then immediately allowed a stopper to leave the STōK Cae Ras.
All eyes were on the now-famous HP printer as Wrexham teased another signing on Monday evening.
Wrexham have done a fine job of keeping deals under wraps this summer, so fans didn’t really know what to expect when Wrexham suggested a new deal was done.
Callum Burton was the name to appear as the goalkeeper became Wrexham’s fourth summer signing after leaving Plymouth Argyle.
Wrexham sprung a major surprise by announcing another signing as left back Sebastian Revan made it a two-for-one on the announcement front.
That is now five signings for the summer window – and the deals sparked an outgoing from Wrexham ahead of the new season.
Luke McNicholas on Rochdale deal
Few were expecting another goalkeeper to be signed.
Arthur Okonkwo completed a permanent move to Wrexham earlier this summer and Mark Howard penned a new deal at the club.
Adding Burton into the mix certainly gives Wrexham some impressive goalkeeping options, but something had to give.
Fans immediately wondered whether Luke McNicholas would be heading out on loan after Burton’s arrival.
The Irishman joined Wrexham on loan last summer before completing a permanent move from Sligo Rovers.
McNicholas struggled for first-team action though with Okonkwo shining, and he just couldn’t suffer that same fate this coming season.
Okonkwo signing permanently, Howard’s new contract, Burton arriving – every step seemed to push McNicholas further down the pecking order.
The 24-year-old has now secured a loan move away from the club, agreeing to sign for Rochdale for the 2024-25 season.
McNicholas will now be in line to play plenty of first-team football in the National League, and he has offered his reaction to the deal.
Speaking on Rochdale’s official site, McNicholas noted that he was instantly excited upon hearing that Rochdale wanted to sign him.
McNicholas feels that he now has a great opportunity at Spotland and is desperate to show his qualities before returning to Wrexham.
“During the summer I heard word of it and it instantly got me excited. The way the gaffer wants to play I think will suit me down the ground,” said McNicholas. “It’s a great opportunity for me to come and play. The club wants to go in the right direction and that was another pull for me.”
“I feel like I’m comfortable on the ball and playing out from the back. I like to make big saves, come for crosses and dominate my box. I think my style of play will suit the team. I want to play as much as possible and get as many games as I can under my belt, and be successful here,” he added.
McNicholas future unclear at Wrexham
A loan deal simply had to materialise with Burton coming in and McNicholas is clearly keen to seize his chance to shine.
The long-term future for McNicholas looks a little uncertain though and this loan deal may actually put him in the shop window.
Okonkwo will hopefully be Wrexham’s first-choice stopper for a long time to come and Burton offers great competition.
Howard may be heading towards the end of his career, but will McNicholas want to be third-choice at Wrexham?
A year of playing regularly at Rochdale will allow McNicholas to play regularly again, just as he did in the Republic of Ireland.
Going to sitting on the sidelines again at Wrexham just won’t excite McNicholas and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him move on permanently next summer.