Wrexham were linked with so many players over the course of the summer transfer window and one of them remains a free agent.
Phil Parkinson guided Wrexham to back-to-back promotions, helping quickly accelerate from the National League to League One.
That rapid rise meant Wrexham faced a busy summer transfer window as ins and outs were a priority in order to be competitive in the third tier.
Difficult departures were confirmed with Rob McElhenney particularly gutted to see Luke Young leave at the end of his contract.
Ben Tozer and Aaron Hayden moved on too as Wrexham said goodbye to players who had served key roles in the club’s rise.
Wrexham brought in eight signings over the summer before adding a free agent after the window closed by signing Josh Adam.
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Arthur Okonkwo, Callum Burton, Lewis Brunt, Dan Scarr, Sebastian Revan, George Dobson, Ollie Rathbone and Modou Faal all joined over the summer before Adam’s arrival.
Some rumoured targets arrived but others headed elsewhere – or even remain without a club.
Reports in June suggested that Wrexham had shown an interest in signing midfielder Joe Morrell on a free transfer.
Morrell picked up an injury in January and missed the rest of the season as Portsmouth won promotion to the Championship.
Morrell left Pompey at the end of the season and a move to Wrexham on a free transfer was thought to be a possibility.
Injuries have continued to haunt Morrell though and that is why he remains a free agent in October.
Wrexham have yet to make a firm move for Morrell but the midfielder is now on the road back to full fitness.
Pompey boss John Mousinho has told The News that Morrell is back on the grass and building up his return.
Mousinho praised Morrell for a ‘massive contribution’ last season and hopes to see him fit and thriving again soon.
“Joe’s back out on the grass now. He has just started jogging, so is still a few weeks out,” said Mousinho.
“It has been a long, slow one, we expected Joe to be out for four months initially, that was in January. It has been a long, long hard one for him, but Joe’s in good spirits and getting on with it.
“I love Joe to bits, he had a massive contribution to last season. There was only ever one game where Joe was fit and available and I didn’t start him, which was away at Exeter. It was around the Christmas (2023) period, so I wanted to freshen things up.
“I think very, very highly of Joe as a player and hopefully he gets back quickly,” he added.
Would Wrexham still want Joe Morrell?
Morrell moving closer and closer to a return to action will be of interest to a number of clubs.
An experienced midfielder who has proven himself in the Championship and in League One, Morrell can be a real force when fit.
Wrexham’s interest may well have disappeared now, especially having signed three midfielders – Dobson, Rathbone and Adam – in recent months.
There is though a major injury blow at Wrexham right now as midfielder George Evans faces a spell on the sidelines.
Morrell can replace the experience of Evans in midfield but he is still some way off actually featuring in competitive games.
By the time Morrell is ready to go, Evans will move closer to a return and we can see Wrexham going with the current crop of midfielders rather than bringing in Morrell.