Phil Parkinson should target ‘excellent’ EFL dynamo to challenge Jacob Mendy at Wrexham

Add as preferred source on Google

Phil Parkinson should target an EFL dynamo to challenge Jacob Mendy for the left-back spot at Wrexham this summer.

Wrexham are currently putting plans in place to bolster multiple areas of their squad this summer.

Released Arsenal goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo tops their list of priorities, but elsewhere, the Reds need to strengthen at left-back given the current shortage of options.

Phil Parkinson has James McClean and Jacob Mendy to choose from in that position, though McClean is better used as a central midfielder, leaving limited options at left-back.

Mendy enjoyed a productive campaign in League Two, although it ended with injury, he still produced two goals and five assists in 31 appearances.

There are, however, concerns surrounding the 27-year-old’s ability, with some questioning whether he’s good enough to play in League One, which is why Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds must target one EFL dynamo.

Wrexham should target Will Ferry on a free transfer from Cheltenham

According to the Gazette, Wrexham’s third-tier rivals Blackpool are chasing a move for Cheltenham Town left-back Will Ferry.

The 23-year-old – who sees his contract at the club expire this summer – is being chased by several EFL sides, though it hasn’t been said whether Wrexham are one of them.

However, given the Reds are on the lookout for a new left-back in the transfer window, a cost-efficient option to challenge Mendy would be to snap up Ferry on a free.

Cheltenham captured the youngster on a permanent deal from Southampton two years ago and he’s since chalked up two goals and eight assists in 82 appearances.

Last term, he played in all but three matches for the Robins in League One and was labelled as “excellent” by EFL journalist Gabriel Sutton.

Indeed, the Bury-born wing-back would provide quality competition for Mendy on the left flank.

How Will Ferry compares to Jacob Mendy

Wrexham are looking for an upgrade on Mendy this summer, and although there hasn’t been any concrete interest in a player – aside from Wigan’s Tom Pearce – Ferry could be the upgrade that Parkinson craves.

Here is how the two players compare across various metrics last season, as per Sofascore.

As displayed by the above table, there isn’t much to separate the two players in attack, boasting similar levels of creativity and goal threat, but defensively, Ferry is levels ahead of the Wrexham man.

He’s recovering more balls per game and making more interceptions and tackles. That could be attributed to the Cheltenham star doing more defending in a side that got relegated, but he was also flourishing in a division higher than Mendy and a worse team.

With all the above considered, Wrexham can do far worse than pursuing a free transfer deal for Ferry to provide competition, or perhaps, become a regular starter for the Reds.