Wrexham are looking to add midfielders to Phil Parkinson’s squad this summer, with Lewis O’Brien emerging as a key target.
Wrexham largely went with a midfield trio of Matty James, George Dobson and Ollie Rathbone towards the end of the League One season.
Elliot Lee’s importance waned a little in the second half of the season, but we know that he can still be a real force in the final third.
Andy Cannon’s injury means Wrexham are likely to recruit in midfield this summer, with a number of names emerging.
Tom Cairney is weighing up a move to Wrexham while Reading ace Charlie Savage has been linked with an emotional move to the STōK Cae Ras.
Both of those midfielders are left-footed, and the same goes for another Wrexham target in Lewis O’Brien.
Swansea City stance on Lewis O’Brien future
Wrexham are interested in signing O’Brien from Nottingham Forest this summer, but face competition from a number of clubs.
O’Brien spent the second half of last season on loan at Swansea City, having previously been on loan at Middlesbrough and D.C. United.
The former Huddersfield Town ace has failed to nail down a place in the Forest side since joining in 2022.
Wrexham won’t be alone in the race for O’Brien and Swansea City are still hoping to bring him back to South Wales.
Speaking to Wales Online, Swansea director of football Richard Montague has admitted ‘good conversations’ with Forest over a return for O’Brien.
Montague noted that Forest were ‘really good’ to deal with during O’Brien’s loan spell, and the Premier League side were happy with his progress.
Montague did note that O’Brien has a ‘Premier League salary’ and there may need to be some compromise in order to bring the midfielder back to South Wales.
A return is ‘still on the table’ and Swansea would ‘love’ to bring O’Brien back, but finances appear to be the stumbling block.
“We have had good conversations with Forest,” said Montague.
“They were really good to deal with last season, they sent us a really nice message to thank us for how well Lewis did with us, which was great to receive.
“We have a good dialogue with them. The ball is a little bit in their court at the moment because of Lewis’ contract situation. He is on a Premier League salary and there needs to be some give in some sense to make it work for us. But it’s definitely an option that’s still on the table.
“We are talking to Lewis and having good conversations with Forest. We would love to be able to do something. It’s just timing and matching it all up with the financial realities,” he added.
Three Wrexham targets could reunite after Swansea stints
Wrexham are expected to splash the cash this summer and may be prepared to cough up for O’Brien’s wages.
That would sting for Swansea, as they prepare to battle Wrexham in the fight to be the highest-finishing Welsh side in English football.
Wrexham may not only snatch O’Brien away from the Swans but also secure two of his teammates from last season.
Wrexham are interested in signing Harry Darling, with the centre-back out of contract and currently poised to leave in just a few weeks.
Darling is a lofty target for Wrexham, with top Championship sides looking to secure his signature.
Wrexham are even eyeing Myles Peart-Harris, who spent last season on loan at Swansea from Brentford.
The athletic midfielder may be primed for a permanent move away from Brentford, with Wrexham now eyeing up a potential move.
Wrexham have a tight-knit dressing room and Parkinson may be interested in adding three players who know each other so well from their time together earlier this year, handing them some familiarity if they arrive at the STōK Cae Ras.