Twice Premier League promotion winner Joe Rothwell snubs Wrexham for Championship return in the January transfer window.
Until League One days, it was easy to spot multiple national league journeymen present in the Wrexham squad. In Championship, the situation has drastically changed. Every week, there are multiple time Reds promotion winners leaving North Wales with James McClean and Andy Cannon being the recent examples that come to mind.
Very soon, Phil Parkinson will have a full fledged starting eleven packed with ex-Premier League names and second-tier stars who have tasted the top-flight promotion before. Right now, the Reds have several Premier League promotion winners in their ranks like Nathan Broadhead, Kieffer Moore and Callum Doyle. The best part, these players form the core of Phil Parkinson’s current 3-4-3 setup.
One more such name could have been added to Wrexham in the coming days, however, Championship rivals Sheffield United overtook the Red Dragons for the deal.
Joe Rothwell snubs Wrexham for Championship return
Coming to the player, he is Rangers midfielder Joe Rothwell. The Ibrox outfit landed him merely six months ago from Premier League club Bournemouth in 2025. However, he has plotted a swift return to the Championship this January.
Shedding light on Rothwell’s Sheffield United switch, journalist Michael Bleach highlighted the fact that Wrexham also wanted him. The report mentioned second-tier peers Derby County as another keen admirer of Joe Rothwell’s talent. With such huge Championship demand, it’s easy to guess that the 31-year-old must have been a massive success at this level in the past.
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Rothwell’s recent Championship stats back that statement. In the previous two seasons alone, the box-to-box midfielder has lined up for Southampton and Leeds United and won promotion with both of them as a regular starter. Although Rothwell’s short stint at Rangers didn’t go to plan, six months is a very short timeframe for Championship suitors to forget his heroics.
For that reason, it feels gutted to know that Wrexham weren’t able to secure Rothwell’s services even for a six-month loan duration until the end of the current campaign. Parky would have had another all-action midfielder similar to Matty James at his disposal.
Plus, who knows, Rothwell might have pulled a hat-trick of Premier League promotions by aiding the Reds ascent to the Premier League.
Should Wrexham sign a new midfielder?
After missing out on Joe Rothwell, should Wrexham try to sign a new midfielder. In most cases, not bringing in an alternative after losing out on a transfer target is a silly move. However, Wrexham weren’t desperate for more quality and control in the middle of the park when the transfer window opened four weeks back.
READ MORE: ‘The End’ – Wrexham fans react to Andy Cannon joining Burton Albion on loan
READ MORE: ‘Agreed’ – Championship rivals sign Wrexham defender every fan wanted gone
READ MORE: 7 transfers Wrexham can complete in final 7 days of January transfer window
Matty James, George Dobson, Ben Sheaf and Lewis O’Brien are enough choices for Phil Parkinson to form a central midfielder pair while simultaneously managing every player’s minutes. Apart from them, George Thomason and Ollie Rathbone are also crucial players who can operate as a midfield controller without putting the team’s structure at risk.
Noting these factors, it’s self understandable why Wrexham didn’t push harder to bag Joe Rothwell’s signature. The absence of adequate right wing backs is the biggest weak link in the team’s defence. If the Hollywood owners and the Reds hierarchy address that area of the pitch with a smart addition like Yan Valery, that would be a 9/10 transfer window for Wrexham.
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