Wrexham target Ronan Hale has now been backed as a Championship-level player having impressed for Cliftonville.
Phil Parkinson secured three signings in January, first landing loan goalkeeper Luke McNicholas on a permanent basis from Sligo Rovers.
Wrexham left it late but then secured two deadline-day additions with wing back Luke Bolton and striker Jack Marriott arriving.
A number of players were linked with moves to the Racecourse Ground and some may be names to keep an eye on for the summer – such as Cliftonville ace Ronan Hale.
Wrexham target Ronan Hale praised
Reports in January suggested that Wrexham were in the mix to land Hale but faced major competition.
League One sides Blackpool, Bolton Wanderers, Derby County, Peterborough United and Portsmouth were also mentioned as being keen on Hale.
A January move to Wrexham didn’t materialise, but Hale hasn’t moved anywhere else yet either.
The 25-year-old has smashed 46 goals in 69 games for Cliftonville, including 12 in 17 league games this season.
Wrexham may well have eye on Hale for the summer window and he has now been praised over in Northern Ireland.
Former Cliftonville boss Marty Quinn has told the Belfast Telegraph that he thinks both Hale and brother Rory are ‘on fire’ and are ‘very high quality players’.
Quinn claims that Hale is more than capable of playing for an English Championship club – two leagues above Wrexham right now.
Quinn feels that Hale would need a ‘hell of an offer’ in order to leave, and hopes he stays with Cliftonville despite the understandable allure of moving leaving Northern Ireland.
“The Hale boys, Ronan and Rory are on fire,” said Quinn. “They are two very high quality players. Ronan is more than capable of playing for a Championship club in England but he is well settled with a young family and it would take a hell of an offer for him to move.”
“He could stay with the Reds for a few seasons hopefully but there’s no doubt so many players are getting moves and he has that potential. I wouldn’t rule it out, he is capable of playing at that level but whether a move suits him or not only he can say. I’m delighted for any young lads to get a move to the professional game in England. You couldn’t blame any kid at all for wanting a better salary and lifestyle, it’s what they dream of,” he added.
It’s not often we see players head straight from Northern Ireland to the Championship, so this may be pretty ambitious stuff from Quinn.
Still, it goes to show how highly-rated Hale is in Northern Ireland and he is bound to be a wanted man.
The former Birmingham City talent will be inundated with offers if he keeps scoring goals and Wrexham should be keeping very close tabs on his performances between now and the summer.