Wrexham are chasing the signature of Nottingham Forest’s Lewis O’Brien, and competition from Hull City may be fading away.
Wrexham are looking to bring in at least one new midfielder this summer as Phil Parkinson prepares for life in the Championship.
Bringing in a new midfielder has not been easy, though, as Tom Cairney is set to stay at Fulham and snub a move to Wrexham.
Tommy Doyle has joined Birmingham City after being eyed by Wrexham, meaning a couple of Parkinson’s targets are now off the table.
The top target now appears to be Lewis O’Brien, with the former Huddersfield Town man unlikely to have a future at Nottingham Forest.
Wrexham are planning to offer £5million for O’Brien in a deal which would more than double the club’s record transfer.
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Hull City hit with embargo amid Lewis O’Brien race
O’Brien spent the second half of last season on loan at Swansea City, but won’t be back in the plans at Forest.
A sale this summer looks inevitable, given that O’Brien has now been loaned out four times in three years as a Forest player.
Unsurprisingly, Wrexham have not been alone in the race to sign O’Brien.
Reports suggested that Hull City were interested in O’Brien and were preparing a multi-million pound offer of their own.
Further claims earlier this week suggested that Hull’s move for O’Brien now appeared unlikely, with the Tigers set to move on.
An explanation may now be emerging, with The Telegraph’s John Percy reporting that Hull have been placed under a transfer embargo by the EFL.
Hull are understood to have owed a Premier League club £1million, and the EFL also have concerns about future instalments promised to other clubs.
The Hull Daily Mail add that the EFL’s embargo will last for three transfer windows, meaning Hull now cannot pay a transfer fee for a player until January 2027.
Hull are likely to appeal, but this bombshell development means Hull are unlikely to be in any kind of race for O’Brien this summer.
Other clubs may be keen, but Wrexham appear to be emerging as the strongest suitors and the favourites to secure O’Brien.
Wrexham fans know the feeling
We can’t in good conscience say that this is a ‘boost’ or ‘good news’ for Wrexham, as this club knows the pain of financial problems.
Many Hull fans are turning on owner Acun Ilicali, believing that it’s time for him to sell up, with Hull in trouble.
Wrexham have been here before, rallying against ownership amid grave financial concerns at the STōK Cae Ras.
Wrexham are on the other side of it now, with Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds’ takeover catapulting the club into the limelight and into the Championship.
Perhaps the situation pushes O’Brien closer to Wrexham, but fans will have sympathy for Tigers supporters and the situation they find themselves in.
Hull join Sheffield Wednesday in being slapped with transfer embargoes, and Wrexham fans will understand the pain of their Championship rivals all too well.