Wrexham have shortlisted Aston Villa prodigy Kosta Nedeljkovic and Portsmouth star Terry Devlin in an attempt to strengthen the right-back slot on deadline day.
With a decisive goal in the 1-0 win over the Owls, Sam Smith has guaranteed himself a starting place at least for a couple of games. And what better way to do this on his signing anniversary?
Interestingly, Wrexham signed Smith from Reading on 31st January last year in a record fee sum. While his increasing prowess in the Reds’ attack force has pleased fans, it shows Wrexham’s ability to strike gold on deadline day.
In 2026, Wrexham’s winter transfer business has been pretty quiet so far. However, the Reds are planning a crucial move apart from the confirmed Zak Vyner signing to extend their winning tradition on deadline day.
As per Football League World, Wrexham have reverted to their full-back demands. The Reds are determined to pursue a right-back addition to compete with Issa Kabore before the window shuts down.
FLW confirmed Wrexham’s options to bolster the RWB role, quoting: “Two players from Aston Villa and Portsmouth respectively are reportedly being considered by the Red Dragons to bolster Phil Parkinson’s squad.”
Wrexham shortlists 2 right-backs for RWB role
Kosta Nedeljkovic
The first name considered on Wrexham’s radar is of Aston Villa loanee Kosta Nedeljkovic. Currently on loan at RB Leipzig, Nedeljkovic has been a top-flight participant for quite some time now.
Despite his exciting credentials, Nedeljkovic’s Leipzig loan has been far from impressive. Having arrived in February 2025, the right-back has had a stop-start campaign before being reduced to a backup role this season.
First and foremost, his Leipzig arrival after Ridle Baku made it difficult for him to make the full-back role his own. Additionally, his knee injury concerns kept him out for the initial part of the 2025/26 season, where Baku won the starting spot.
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Understandably, Nedeljkovic has seen game time come pretty rarely. With just 252 minutes of action and no goal contributions in 5 appearances, his Bundesliga numbers are a poor reflection of his actual potential.
That’s because Nedeljkovic has a limitless ceiling in him if put to proper use. Having been a consistent part of Serbia’s Nations League campaign at just 18 years old speaks for his potential. That’s not forgetting his Premier League pedigree for Aston Villa.
Being excellent in possession retention and impressive in build-up play from the back, Nedeljkovic can offer a different dynamic to Wrexham’s roster. Despite his playstyle being less offensive than Issa Kabore’s, Kosta Nedeljkovic is another Kabore-level talent and can hit top form if trusted enough.
Terry Devlin
As compared to Nedeljkovic, Terry Devlin is a more in-form prospect from the Championship itself. Despite being just 22, Devlin has been one of the rare positives for Portsmouth in an otherwise relegation-battling season.
So far, Devlin has enjoyed a brilliant individual campaign for the Pompeys. With 4 Championship goal contributions as a full-back, Devlin has emerged as a regular starter despite a slow start to the season.
While Nedeljkovic’s profile boasts his Top Flight pedigree, Devlin’s portfolio shines for his versatility. Having played multiple roles for Portsmouth this season, Devlin is one of the distinct RB’s who can score goals with their presence in the opposition box.
Terry Devlin’s attacking proficiency with 3 goals places him as an ideal competitor for Issa Kabore in the RWB position. Additionally, Devlin can be comparatively more feasible for Wrexham than Kosta Nedeljkovic.
Firstly, Aston Villa would be reluctant to let go of a young prospect like Nedeljkovic on a permanent move. Even if they do, Wrexham would be expected to pay a significant transfer fee for his PL pedigree to get him on their financial books.
However, Devlin’s signing from a struggling Championship side comes rather easily. While he can realistically arrive in a budget of £2-3m, it’ll be easier for Wrexham to convince him to join a better Championship suit.
Overall, both Kosta Nedeljkovic and Terry Devlin are exciting transfer options. However, Devlin is a more realistic Wrexham target than convincing Nedeljkovic to drop down to the second-tier football.
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