Wrexham is making waves in the transfer market again! The Welsh side is poised to acquire Manchester City defender Callum Doyle in a deal that could reach up to £8 million. It’s quite the investment, especially considering I’ve seen less expensive defenses at Buckingham Palace!
Strengthening the Backline
As Wrexham adapts to life in the Championship under boss Phil Parkinson, the team is focused on bolstering their defense. Doyle adds over 100 Championship appearances to the squad, having had loan spells at Coventry, Leicester City, and Norwich. This experience is invaluable for the young player, who is only 21 years old.
Wrexham hasn’t been shy about spending this summer. New signings include:
- Nathan Broadhead
- Lewis O’Brien
- Conor Coady
- Kieffer Moore
However, despite these additions, the results have yet to follow, with the team suffering two defeats in their first two Championship matches.
A Hopeful Addition
Phil Parkinson will be looking to Doyle to provide the right mix of youth and experience to kickstart Wrexham’s season and secure some much-needed points. His decision to join Wrexham seems influenced by his Manchester ties, making the Welsh club a convenient choice, especially with interest from Rangers and Sheffield United.
This move also allows Doyle to settle down after four consecutive loan spells, starting with Sunderland in the 2021/22 season.
Manchester City’s Continued Success
For Manchester City, this transfer adds to their impressive academy sales record, bringing their earnings from youth graduates to around £70 million. Recent notable sales include James McAtee’s £30 million move to Nottingham Forest and Yan Couto’s £25 million transfer to Borussia Dortmund.
Upcoming Matches
Once the deal is finalized, Doyle won’t have to wait long to revisit familiar settings, as Wrexham is set to play at Norwich on September 20th and then head to Leicester ten days later. Before that, all eyes will be on Saturday’s match against Sheffield Wednesday, where Wrexham hopes to secure their first win of the season against fellow early strugglers.
Injury Concerns
There are some concerns regarding injuries, particularly with Josh Windass, who is doubtful for the upcoming match against his former club. He was forced off during Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to West Brom.
“I haven’t spoken to the physio yet; I’ll talk to Kev [Kevin Mulholland]. When a player pulls up like that, it’s not good,” Parkinson said after the match.
Reflecting on the second consecutive defeat, Parkinson noted defensive weaknesses: “The goals we conceded today were too soft; it’s as simple as that. We’ve handed them goals by not dealing with the situation. Football never changes; it’s all about what happens in and around the boxes.”
With defensive issues on his mind, it’s no surprise Parkinson is moving quickly to secure Doyle. At this rate, I wouldn’t be shocked if they installed a revolving door at the Racecourse Ground—though given their current defensive record, it might not make much difference!