Wrexham’s stance on Josh Windass to Rangers transfer involving a proposed loan deal will take Red Dragons fans by surprise.
Wrexham, Blackburn Rovers & the 10th standing fiasco have had a history this season that would break a historian’s brain. One that started with the Dragons at the 10th spot, sustained a game there and has Wrexham returning to the same ranking after the return fixture.
Agreed, the Welsh club had jumped to a momentary 8th, too, but it wouldn’t remain so for long, as the matchday end brought them back to 10th.
Despite that, from a Wrexham fan’s perspective, it’s ultimate bliss & relaxation as the club hits its season high position again. No more, as here enters the January transfer window, and it hits the ‘panic’ button on everyone.
Again, that phase when surprising rumours originate with players missing matchdays only to end up at rival clubs. And yes, where transfer moves can begin to end up in a timeline stretching from a spectrum of just hours to extensive weeks.
Get excited, Wrexham fans, as if the Paul Mullin rumours are to be believed, the club may have its first done deal soon. But the only surprise is that instead of a traditional buyer role, the Dragons ought to surprise Europe by playing the seller this January as well.
Wrexham’s updated stance on Josh Windass’ transfer
Let alone the rest, seeing Josh Windass in transfer conversations again comes as a bombshell dropped on even Wrexham fans. But this time the discussion emerges from the club’s entourage rather than from the 31-year-old’s side.
Surprisingly, what has refuelled this speculation is Wrexham’s changed stance on a move.
According to the Daily Mail’s recent report, “It’s understood that the Welsh side have no intention of allowing the 31-year-old attacking midfielder to leave on a temporary deal unless they are also paid a loan fee.”
Notably, the idea of a loan commissioned by a transfer fee changes it all about Josh Windass’ Wrexham future. What it does is change the 31-year-old’s transfer status from “non-negotiable” to “available for sale.”
From the fans’ perspective, considering a January departure for one of the club’s best players is itself frustrating. Just imagine if the club actually let go of their 11 G/A star, whose injury absence had caused major turbulence among the supporters.
A possible promotion, a chance at creating history with 4 consecutive promotions, everything is at stake. While Windass isn’t the only one affecting all this, he’s clearly one of the biggest stakeholders in the picture.
Who will replace Josh Windass at Wrexham?
Arguably, no fan would love to see this discussion emerging, but it might be the harsh reality they face if Windass rejoins Danny Rohl at Rangers. Seldom comes the need to replace such a crucial player like him.
Needless to say, Rob & Ryan will definitely bring a like-for-like loanee to cater for Windass’ departure. Names like Callum Lang ought to pop up, but Wrexham may have a gem of a player already eyeing the role.
He’s none other than the Dragons’ new “van Basten”, Ollie Rathbone.
Excelling in the exact attacking midfield profile Windass provides, Rathbone is one of the most in-form names Wrexham can search for. And what better? Given that the makeshift midfielder possesses the ability to excel in striking duties if given a chance.
Take the Blackburn game, for instance. Despite spending months yearning for a start, Ollie did more than enough to prove his starting candidature in the lineup.
Having given an all-round display while covering every inch of the field, Rathbone doesn’t deserve to return to the bench again. Just imagine pairing him up with Nathan Broadhead & Kieffer Moore, and there’s no one competing against that attacking trio.
The best of all, Wrexham fans have already nicknamed Ollie as their “new signing”. The fans are in, boss Parky agreed, so who’s then stopping Wrexham from getting a promotion? Maybe no one.
