Wrexham capturing Lewis Brunt permanently from Leicester City may have just put one player in danger.
The pieces of Phil Parkinson’s transfer puzzle are starting to bind together at Wrexham as goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo and centre-back Lewis Brunt have been announced as permanent signings.
Brunt was confirmed as a Wrexham player on Tuesday, joining from Premier League side Leicester City on a three-year contract.
The 23-year-old offers Parkinson much-needed defensive cover after releasing experienced centre-back trio; Ben Tozer, Aaron Hayden and Jordan Tunnicliffe at the end of last season.
For the newly promoted Reds, cover in every single position will be paramount for them to challenge for promotion, although the capture of Brunt may have left one Wrexham player in danger.
Will Boyle’s position at Wrexham could be in danger
Will Boyle was signed from Huddersfield Town last summer as a strong defensive option.
A former League Two title winner with Cheltenham Town in 2021, Boyle solidified a back line that needed improving after winning promotion from the National League.
The 28-year-old divided opinion in his first season at the Racecourse Ground, as while some lambasted him for his reckless displays, others came to his defence and saw what a brilliant no-nonsense defender he was.
Boyle did play a contributing role in Wrexham finishing second and sealing promotion, featuring 24 times in the league, though his time in the side decreased once Parkinson established a back three of Max Cleworth, Eoghan O’Connell and Tom O’Connor.
That formidable trio pushed Boyle down the pecking order while the signing of Brunt and the prospect of George Evans filling in at the back could see the Englishman become the sixth choice, and that is before any more signings are made.
This puts Boyle at risk of restricted game time next term as Brunt will have been brought into the club to play regular football while Cleworth, O’Connell and O’Connor are all preferred options.
What Will Boyle must now do
Towards the end of last season, Boyle lost his place in the starting XI as Wrexham cruised to promotion.
In a couple of weeks, the Reds will be embarking on their Wrex Coast Tour of the United States as Parkinson’s men come up against Premier League outfits Chelsea and Bournemouth in pre-season.
Boyle must use those two matches as motivation to prove his worth to the Wrexham boss and show he’s ready to play regular minutes in League One.
At the minute, though, the “fantastic” defender – as dubbed by Neil Warnock – could see his game time restricted and at the current stage of his career that isn’t good news as he needs to be playing regularly.