Wrexham are looking to strike some January transfer business but may already have one eye on squad planning for the summer.
The January transfer window is here but Wrexham are yet to strike any business.
Almost a fortnight in, Wrexham have been very quiet and this may just be how Phil Parkinson likes it.
Parkinson tends to leave his January business late as he seeks to strike the very best deal in a tricky window.
Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds may well look to spend but it’s difficult to look too far ahead given that Wrexham’s division next season is a big unknown.
Wrexham could be playing Championship football next season and won’t want to spend big money this month on players who may not fit in the second tier.
Contract decisions may also depend on what division Wrexham are playing in next season, but three players may be running out of time to stake their claim.
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Jacob Mendy
Snapped up from Boreham Wood in 2022, Mendy played key roles in the last two seasons with 61 league appearances combined.
Mendy became a Gambia international with Wrexham and he has been a popular member of this squad and an important part of the club’s rise.
The 28-year-old is out of contract this summer though and, sadly, Wrexham can’t take everyone moving forward.
Mendy has managed to play just 93 minutes of League One action across four appearances this season, with just one appearance coming as a starter – the last game against Peterborough United.
Injuries have certainly been a factor for Mendy and Wrexham will have to weigh up whether those issues will ease in the coming months and years.
James McClean is first choice at left wing back and Sebastian Revan will hopefully be the future there, so Mendy may find himself as the odd man out.
We would love to see Mendy really pick up momentum in 2025 and earn himself that new deal, but the Wrexham project is moving forward rapidly and he could be left behind.
James Jones
Spare a though for James Jones, possibly the unluckiest man in the Wrexham squad right now.
Midfielder Jones arrived from Lincoln City in 2021 and had been through some real injury woes with Crewe Alexandra.
The Scot managed 84 league appearances in his first two Wrexham seasons and another 16 across cup competitions.
The injury problems appeared to be in the past but Jones sadly hasn’t started a league game for Wrexham since February.
Even when Parkinson planned to feature Jones against Port Vale, the game was postponed, preventing Jones from making a return to the pitch.
That just sums up the luck for Jones right now; if it isn’t injuries, it’s adverse weather.
Jones just can’t seem to get going again and it would be a surprise to see him earn a new deal as things stand.
Anthony Forde
Wide man Anthony Forde is another popular man in the Wrexham squad and nobody can fault his attitude.
The Irishman wasn’t even registered for League One action in the first half of the season but showed the right attitude in EFL Trophy games.
Forde was on the bench against Peterborough United with the EFL registration window open for January.
Whether Forde lands himself back in the squad permanently remains to be seen but a parting of the ways this summer may be best for all.
The 31-year-old has the quality to shine elsewhere and with first-team opportunities lacking, Forde is unlikely to win a new contract barring a real turn of events.
Allowing any of Mendy, Jones and Forde to leave would be difficult to watch, but Wrexham released Ben Tozer and Luke Young last summer and have shown that there is no room for sentiment, something we may see again later this year.
Mendy has the best chance of the three to stay, in our opinion, but the other options at left wing back will leave Parkinson with a real dilemma.