The January transfer window is just around the corner, and for Wrexham, a fresh priority has emerged.
Wrexham have enjoyed an impressive, albeit eventful return to the Football League.
The Welsh club are curently sat in 2nd place of the League Two table after a pretty rocky start to the season.
Phil Parkinson‘s side conceded five in their opening day defeat vs MK Dons, five more in a 5-5 thriller vs Swindon Town a couple of weeks later, and lost 5-0 at Stockport County in September.
But in between those five-goal games, Wrexham have been putting serious points on the board having already amassed 37 points after the opening 20 games.
Another promotion is well on the cards for Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney‘s side, but some January additions may be vital.
A new defender seems like a priority with Aaron Hayden a fresh injury concern, joining the likes of Bryce Hosannah and Eoghan O’Connell on the sidelines.
But Wrexham’s Hollywood owners could call in a favour from beloved NFL legend Tom Brady and his Birmingham City side, with Blues defender Marcel Oakley looking like he could potentially go out on loan next month.
Who is Marcel Oakley?
Oakley, 21, is a defender who’s rose through the ranks at Birmingham City.
He made his Championship debut in the 2021/22 season and spent time on loan in Scotland last time round, but has just two league appearances to his name so far this season.
Only one of those has come under new boss Wayne Rooney who doesn’t appear to favour the defender, who will enter the final six moths of his contract next month.
Why would he be a good fit for Wrexham?
Right now, Wrexham only have one recognised right-back in their side in Hosannah, who’s injured, so Parkinson has been forced to deploy makeshift names on the right.
Oakley is a natural right-back and so he’d bring depth to that position, and energy too with Oakley very much a player who likes to get forward and join in the attack.
But Oakley can also operate as a centre-back.
He did so during loan spells with Arbroath and Queen’s Park last time round, so he’d give Parkinson something of a utility option at the back, filing in where needed.
For Oakley, next month could be make or break for him.
It looks like it might be time for him to move on and kickstart his career, though he may feel like a loan move to a Football League club could well put him in the first-team picture at Birmingham City.
Joining an exciting club like Wrexham could bring the best out of Oakley like it has done with so many other players already, and given the potential Reynolds-Brady connection, it could be a move that Wrexham and Birmingham City could make happen.