Wrexham is touted to follow in Rangers’ footprints to win Swedish right back Hampus Skoglund’s transfer deal.
Unequivocally, Wrexham’s latest stories unfurl like a tale of two halves for the fans. While it’s been all celebrations and fun on the pitch, there have been no crackers off the field.
Having won five in a row, Wrexham have overperformed their fans’ expectations. Given that includes a win against former PL champions and a recent victory against a Top Flight club, it clearly says for the exceptional job Parky and co. have pulled off.
On the flip side, the Dragons’ impeccable form endangers fan expectations of no January signings coming soon.
Ever since the transfer window began, Wrexham have been moving through it as window shoppers. Time and again, rumour mills have been upsurging, but only for the management and team to quell them down with another magnificent win.
What’s surprising is that not long ago, the scenario stood completely flipped. With Wrexham’s winless streak soaring to a 5-game high, multiple January signings looked imminent, apart from discussions looming of a new boss incoming, too.
That time, Phil Parkinson’s 3-5-2 to 3-4-3 switch saved Wrexham on the field, and now the club is touted to learn from previous suitors to strike some January transfers, too.
Wrexham to learn from Rangers’ admin actions
For a fair share of the January window buildup, Wrexham and Rangers have played the parent club and suitors, respectively. Though no transfer went through with Josh Windass and Ryan Hardie’s links cooling down, the Red Dragons can replicate Rangers’ actions for a signing.
Notably, just like Wrexham, Rangers too had a sluggish start in this window. Links kept coming through, but no conversions until the Gers’ admin posted on X: “Sign someone @RangersFC.”
Say it’s a coincidence or a perfect tee-up, Rangers announced their first winter signing of Tochi Chukwuani within the next few hours.
Very similar to the Gers’ scenario, it’s been a long wait for Wrexham fans for a new signing. While other Championship clubs conduct squad overhauls, the Dragons’ quotient stands 3 in announcements but zero in signings.
That’s where Wrexham’s admin needs to jump in and replicate Gers’ pattern. Time and again, the club has been involved in X banters and what better than this? To use it as a launchpad for in-demand Hampus Skoglund’s deal.
Why Skoglund over others makes perfect sense?
For a spending-spree club like Wrexham, such a prolonged period of inactivity hints at reduced recruitment. If that’s to happen, prioritising a talent like Hampus Skoglund makes perfect sense.
Taking a look at Wrexham’s roster, the club has considerable backup power in most positions to cater for emergencies. Except for wing-backs on both sides.
With Liberato Cacace and Ryan Barnett’s return still premature, Wrexham needs to plan accordingly. Add to that, Max Purvis’ development loan and everything screams for a wing-back signing to be listed as the priority.
Enter Hampus Skoglund in the picture. Having improved abilities over Wrexham’s most reliable right-back, Issa Kabore, Skoglund ought to be a major upgrade in Wrexham’s lineup.
Likely, it’s the Swedish defender’s market stature that has caused a spike in his valuation from the initial touted fee of £2.6m to £4m. What this means is Wrexham needs to be precise and proactive in its approach to win Skoglund’s deal.
Time and again, the Red Dragons have hit jackpots on a foreign full-back’s deal. With Issa Kabore & Cacace being the recent examples, Skoglund ought to be the next success in this tally.
Overall, there are more than enough reasons that make Hampus Skoglund’s transfer to Wrexham an exciting one. Hopefully, the Dragons bring him in as grand a fashion as Rangers did with Chukwuani.
