Both Wrexham and Birmingham City reportedly missed out on a 303-app Premier League defender, who is waiting for an opportunity that will ‘tick all the boxes’.
Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson was keen to add experience to his ranks this summer, bringing in 14 new faces to the Racecourse Ground.
There was no hiding that Wrexham held conversations with many players throughout the summer transfer window, having missed out on several targets in the process.
It was left late by Wrexham in bringing defenders to the side, with Dom Hyam arriving from Blackburn Rovers late on deadline day, while Callum Doyle and Conor Coady also signed for the Red Dragons.
Wrexham were keen on yet another defender, it has been revealed, but he had one clear reason to opt against a move to North Wales.
Wrexham were turned down by Premier League veteran Craig Dawson
It has been revealed, via Alan Nixon on Patreon, that Wrexham put in an offer for Craig Dawson this summer.
Dawson, 35, has accumulated vast experience, having notched 303 appearances in the Premier League for West Brom, Wolves, West Ham, and Watford.
The Rochdale-born defender found himself in the Premier League last season with Wolves, where he played on 15 occasions, but now finds himself as a free agent.
Wrexham, alongside fellow Championship side Blackburn Rovers put in an offer, but it was reported that ‘the next and final move to tick all the boxes’ for Dawson.
Birmingham City also made an approach with a £1m per-year contract for the defender, but that was also turned down by the centre-back.
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Phil Parkinson has defensive issues that he must solve at Wrexham
While Phil Parkinson did recruit well this summer regarding defenders, despite Craig Dawson turning down a move to the Racecourse Ground, there are still plenty of questions that need to be asked following their difficult start to the campaign.
Defensively, Wrexham struggled against QPR, with Parkinson’s side being ripped open on a number of occasions, which begs the question of whether the current tactical set-up plays to the players’ strengths.
Parkinson has always been fond of his three at the back formation at Wrexham, but it proved to be their Achilles heel against QPR.
Pressure is beginning to mount on Parkinson at Wrexham, and a change of tactical set-up may be needed if they are to adapt positively to the difficulty of the Championship.