Wrexham are still seeking to improve their squad in the final few days of the transfer window.
Phil Parkinson was unimpressed with his side’s defending in their 3-2 defeat at home to West Brom and has acted with Wrexham ‘closing in’ on a deal to sign Callum Doyle from Manchester City.
Josh Windass is set to miss several weeks after suffering a hamstring injury on his home debut and the Red Dragons are set to act in the market.
Wrexham are interested in Jordan James from French outfit Stade Rennais and Wrexham Insider has assessed the impact the potential arrival of James would have on the current squad.
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Winners from a potential Jordan James transfer to Wrexham
Lewis O’Brien
Lewis O’Brien was Wrexham’s best player in the defeat to the Baggies and scored on his debut at the Racecourse Ground.
O’Brien cut an isolated figure at times as he looked to impose his aggressive pressing nature in the middle of the park but didn’t have the bodies around him for it to be effective.
George Dobson has hailed O’Brien for his quality and the midfielder would love a player of James’s quality and energy to join him in Parkinson’s engine room.
James is known for his robust style as well as having the guile and technical ability to progress the ball from a deeper role. It could be a dream partnership for the Red Dragons.
Nathan Broadhead
In the absence of Windass, it is expected that record-signing Nathan Broadhead will slot into the number ten role just off of Kieffer Moore.
Broadhead didn’t have the best debut against West Brom and struggled to get on the ball and find pockets of space to create chances.
A player with the passing range of James would be a huge bonus for Broadhead to have behind him in midfield.
It would also mean that Broadhead would be able to have more of a licence to concentrate on his attacking responsibilities with James having the ability and intelligence to cover so much ground defensively.
Losers from a potential Jordan James transfer to Wrexham
Matty James
Matty James has started both of Wrexham’s first two games in the Championship at the base of the midfield.
Whilst his experience will continue to be invaluable, James did struggle with the pace and agility of West Brom’s midfield in the first half especially.
Jordan James would be the ideal candidate to give Wrexham some fresher legs in the holding role and could replace the former Premier League title winner in Parkinson’s side.
George Thomason
George Thomason has already become a bit of a forgotten man at Wrexham after arriving from Bolton this summer in a deal worth £1.2m.
The midfielder suffered an injury in pre-season that has meant he is yet to feature for the Red Dragons and will see his chances of doing so slipping further away should James arrive.
Both players like to play in front of the back four with an energetic style of harassing opponents and being a nuisance in the middle of the park.
Whilst Wrexham will need a competitive squad, Thomason may have been hoping to cement a place in Parkinson’s side this season, which will become very challenging should James sign.
Elliot Lee
Elliot Lee has been a huge part of Wrexham’s three successive promotions and is already off the mark this campaign after scoring in the EFL Cup victory over Hull City.
However, it appears that Lee is likely to be moved on by the club this summer following an influx of players coming through the door in his position.
Whilst James plays a slightly different role than Lee, any hopes that the 30-year-old may drop deeper this season and dictate play alongside the likes of Matty James will surely be dashed if Jordan James arrives.
It will be a sad day for Wrexham fans to see Lee depart the club, however, they will also understand that it is part and parcel of the evolution of under Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.