Wrexham have just been handed a major boost in quest to sign ‘phenomenal’ former Liverpool youngster
Wrexham are keen to add more faces to their squad as pre-season draws ever closer.
Wrexham signed Ryan Hardie as the striker became Phil Parkinson’s first acquisition of the summer transfer window and he is expected to be followed by further additions.
The Red Dragons have identified central midfield as an area of improvement and Wrexham are interested in Ryan Teague from Melbourne Victory.
Tom Cairney looks set to stay at Fulham after Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney offered him a bumper contract at the Racecourse Ground. However, there could be some good news in the club’s pursuit of another midfield target.
READ MORE: Wrexham now in four-club race to sign Championship legend on a free transfer this summer
Wrexham handed boost in pursuit of Lewis Travis
Wrexham are interested in Lewis Travis from Championship rivals Blackburn Rovers and will be intrigued by Rovers’ latest transfer activity.
Blackburn have signed Sidnei Tavares from Portuguese side Moreirense, a player that plays in the same central midfield role as Travis.
Some reports have suggested Wrexham had cooled interest in Travis but with targets such as Cairney and Lewis O’Brien falling by the wayside, this latest twist could provide an opportunity to swoop.
Derby County are also eyeing a move for Travis, who was the Blackburn skipper last season and has a wealth of experience in the second tier under his belt.
Wrexham need more than one central midfielder this summer
Parkinson will want to add more than one central midfielder to his ranks this summer in order to solve a creativity problem his side have had during the last campaign in League One.
Wrexham were crying out for a number ten who could get on the ball and provide service to the likes of Sam Smith up top.
Wrexham are interested in Charlie Savage and have also been tracking Tom Lawrence on a free following his release from Rangers.
A creative option alongside an industrious, tenacious midfielder would provide Parkinson with the perfect blend into his Wrexham midfield for the upcoming campaign.
I’ve watched Barry Bannan play 100 times, Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson should be desperate to sign him
Sheffield Wednesday hero Barry Bannan could be on the move this summer, after 10 years at Hillsborough. And the Scot could end up at Wrexham.
Sheffield Wednesday are in a mess. The club is under a registration embargo and some stern transfer restrictions, which means that club legend and skipper Barry Bannan could finally leave the club after a decade.
The 35-year-old is out of contract this summer. Wrexham have been linked with a move for Bannan although a move to the Racecourse may not come about for a few more weeks yet.
It’s understood that Bannan is open to staying at Sheffield Wednesday beyond this season, and despite the chaos going on at the club. But with the club’s situation only getting more complicated, it could mean that Bannan has to move on in the coming weeks.
So what do Wrexham fans need to know about Bannan? As a former Sheffield Wednesday season ticket holder, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing the midfield magician in action well over 100 times in the past…
- READ MORE: Wrexham now in four-club race to sign Championship legend on a free transfer this summer
Barry Bannan is the Championship Andres Iniesta
Quick on his feet, intricate with his passing, and a real dictator of play in the midfield: Bannan shares a lot of the same traits as former Barcelona and Spain maestro Andres Iniesta. Bannan even earned comparisons to Iniesta earlier on in his career when playing at Aston Villa.
Then boss Gerard Houllier said of academy man Bannan: “I had players at other clubs who were the same size and had wonderful careers. The top-level is about skill, intelligence and desire. He is an intelligent player, he can read the game well and adapt well. I don’t think Xavi and Iniesta, who are outstanding players, are of huge size.
“They are intelligent, they have the skill, they have the desire – young Barry has all of that. The Premier League has got more physical but it is not about a matter of size.”
When you see Bannan playing live in the flesh, you get to see just how much say he has over the tempo of games. As soon as he gets on the ball, the game seems to open up in front of him.
For some of Wrexham’s other midfield players, like the club’s 2024/25 Player of the Season Ollie Rathbone, George Dobson, even Max Cleworth given his style of play, having the chance to play alongside Bannan could really help to improve their own games.
Barry Bannan’s stats in the Championship in 2024/25
Despite being 35 years old, Bannan is still going strong. He shone yet again for Sheffield Wednesday last season scoring four goals and claiming five assists in 41 league appearances.
What’s also incredible about Bannan is that he seems almost immune to injury. He’s made a total of 447 appearances for the Owls, scoring 34 goals and assisting 72, and in the last seven seasons he’s only missed 20 league games for the club.
Bannan seems to be defying age. Not only is he almost always available, but he still has the energy to boss the midfield. He’s everywhere constantly, picking up loose balls, running into space to pick up a pass, looking as though he’s still a player in his 20s.
