Ryan Barnett has been one of the standout performers at Wrexham in the 2024/25 season.
Ryan Barnett made the move to Wrexham in February 2023 from Solihull Moors for an undisclosed fee.
What transfer fee the Red Dragons stumped up for the wing-back, however, is surely already proven to be so worth it.
The 25-year-old played 12 National League games in the second half of 2022/23 to help Phil Parkinson’s side win promotion for the first time in well over a decade.
Barnett then featured 37 times, scored twice, and provided four assists during the previous campaign en route to a second-place finish in League Two.
This season, however, has been far and away the Englishman’s best-ever for Wrexham and any other club.
James McClean dubbed Barnett ‘top class’ after the draw with Cambridge United this past weekend.
But even those comments don’t do the defender justice, with the 25-year-old almost certainly set to be named Wrexham’s Player of the Season come May.
Wrexham lack quality Ryan Barnett cover
Barrnet has started all but one of the club’s 20 League One matches so far this campaign, chipping in with a staggering seven assists and one goal.
However, with sides in the EFL often playing twice a week and a run of four games in 12 days coming up, it’s obvious the defender cannot play every single match for Parkinson this season.
At present, however, Wrexham are lacking any real quality options to rival and replace Barnett should he need a rest or even pick up an injury.
Sebastian Revan has been poor since joining the club over the summer and he is also currently acting as back-up to McClean on the opposite side of the back-five.
Anthony Forde started at right-wing-back in the recent EFL Trophy win over Crewe Alexandra, but he isn’t currently registered to play in League One.
Luke Bolton is another option but he’s spent most of 2024/25 out injured and if Wrexham want to truly compete with the likes of Birmingham City, they need quality cover all over the pitch which, in fairness, Bolton probably isn’t at this level.
Wrexham could sign Isaiah Jones to rival Ryan Barnett
However, a recent transfer update concerning Middlesbrough winger Isaiah Jones should give Wrexham the green light to sign a quality Barnett alternative.
According to Football League World, Jone is now looking to leave Boro in the January transfer window with several clubs interested.
The 25-year-old has lost his place in the starting lineup to Liverpool loanee Ben Doak this season and while he has been inconsistent at times for the Teessdiers, he would thrive at Wrexham.
Jones is rapid, an excellent dribbler, and provides exactly the type of attacking threat Parkinson wants in his wing-backs.
He is a natural right-winger and has largely played there in 2024/25. But Jones enjoyed a prolific spell as a wing-back when Jonathan Woodgate was Middlesbrough boss, seeing him named the Championship Player of the Month in December 2021.