Wrexham look like they’re closing on their 10th signing of the summer and it’s another big money move with Callum Doyle looking set to arrive.
Wrexham have already spent over £20m on new players this summer and half of that was spent on Welsh international Nathan Broadhead.
Last week, Wrexham completed a £10m deal to sign Broadhead from Ipswich Town and the attacker becomes the Dragons’ most expensive signing ever.
Along with Broadhead, names like Lewis O’Brien, Liberato Cacace, Kieffer Moore and Conor Coady have all arrived for significant transfer fees this summer.
But Phil Parkinson looks like he wants more. Reports on Tuesday revealed that Wrexham are closing in on an £8m deal to sign Callum Doyle from Manchester City.
Here we look at the winners and losers of Doyle arriving at the Racecourse…
Winners from a Wrexham deal for Callum Doyle
Man City
Man City seem like the obvious winner in all of this. Initially, Wrexham wanted to sign Doyle for £2m, but City massively upped the asking price, eventually agreeing on an £8m deal. It’s understood that teams are charging Wrexham more for players this summer, knowing that owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac are willing to spend money.
Dubbed ‘Wrexham Tax’, it may not be the first time this summer or in the future that the Dragons overpay for a player.
Conor Coady
Coady is arguably Wrexham’s main centre-back right now. Wrexham fans were impressed with Coady on his debut against Southampton earlier in the month, but the former Leicester City and Wolves man is somewhat prone to injuries.
Having Doyle arriving at the club gives Coady reassurances that he can be rotated and rested every now and then, and replaced with a quality player in Doyle.
Phil Parkinson
Likewise, Phil Parkinson will benefit massively from having another centre-back to rotate and give players like Coady a rest. What’s more is that Doyle is a very versatile defender, able to play in the centre or on the left, giving Parkinson even more options on the pitch, but Doyle said he prefers to play at centre-back.
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Losers from a Wrexham deal for Callum Doyle
James McClean
There’s no doubting that Doyle is a very capable left-back, as good a centre-back as he is, and there may be occasions where he is utilised on the left. Cacace missed the West Brom game through injury but has recently been called up to the New Zealand side, suggesting that it was only a minor injury.
He replaced James McClean in the starting lineup of against Southampton, and with another left-sided player arriving in Doyle, it may push captain McClean further down the pecking order. Recently, McClean signed a new contract at Wrexham until 2027.
Eoghan O’Connell
Defender Eoghan O’Connell was a key player for the Dragons last season. He featured 39 times in League One and director Humphrey Kerr even said O’Connell was his Wrexham Player of the Season.
Though the Irishman is yet to feature in the Championship this season, being an unused substitute in both games. He did however play in Wrexham’s Carabao Cup when over Hull City last week.
But Doyle arriving surely keeps O’Connell out of contention if not even out of the matchday squad. And when there’s still the likes of Dan Scarr at the club, O’Connell is fighting with a lot of centre-backs for first-team minutes which he may not get very much of, if any at all, if Doyle arrives.
