Jordan Davies leaves: 4 players Wrexham AFC should loan out this summer

After finishing their victorious 2023–24 season, Wrexham AFC has been silent on the transfer front thus far.

Phil Parkinson, the manager, says he’s not in a rush to make deals because he wants to discover players who will thrive in League One.

Even though the Red Dragons currently boast a roster full of household names, like Elliot Lee in the midfield and Paul Mullin as the striker, more additions will be required if they are to contend for an unprecedented third consecutive promotion.

A few players who were on the outside of Parkinson’s team struggled to play in League Two the previous season, including a few whose development has come to a standstill.

In light of this, the Wrexham manager ought to think about loaning out these four players for the upcoming campaign.

Jordan Davies

Jordan Davies, an attacking midfielder, was a standout player in Parkinson’s first season as the team’s manager.

Before losing to Grimsby Town in the play-off semifinals, the homegrown player made 47 appearances and scored 21 goals in all competitions in 2021–2022, helping Wrexham finish second in the National League.

With the addition of Elliot Lee from Luton Town in the summer of 2022, everything changed, and the 25-year-old’s chances have gotten progressively worse ever since.

Davies made 15 starts and 15 replacement appearances in their 2022–2023 National League title-winning campaign, tallying four goals.

He only made six starts and spent most of the previous season on the bench, making 26 appearances as a substitute and tallying four goals in all competitions.

The athlete told the Leader newspaper that although it had been a challenging season for him personally, he was committed to regaining Parkinson’s trust.

But it’s obvious that Davies’s career at the Racecourse has stagnated, and he would benefit from a loan at a League Two team.

Sam Dalby

When Sam Dalby transferred from Southend United to the Red Dragons in August 2022, there were early indications of promise.

The young player impressed during Wrexham’s FA Cup adventures in 2022–2023 and offered Ollie Palmer some competition in the second striker spot. They especially triumphed 4–3 against Coventry City in the third round.

However, despite making 14 starts, the 24-year-old also struggled to get going in League Two, scoring only once.

Although he signed a contract extension in October 2023, it’s unlikely that he will play a significant role in the upcoming season, even though he added four goals in cup tournaments.

In light of that, it would also be advantageous to loan him to the lower tier.

Billy Waters

Billy Waters is a player who has struggled to establish himself at Wrexham.

The striker was mostly signed as insurance in case Paul Mullin sustained an injury during the team’s March 2023 title matchup with Notts County.

The 29-year-old has only made three starts and five substitute appearances in total while in North Wales, and he has yet to score a goal.

He had a good record at FC Halifax Town in the National League and had done well at Barrow in League Two, but at the beginning of the previous season, Parkinson’s 22-man roster did not include him.

In January, Waters was later loaned to Doncaster Rovers, a team in the fourth division, although he had trouble contributing there too.

Given that Waters’ contract expires at the end of the 2024–2025 season, it seems improbable that he will be given a chance to play in the upcoming campaign.

Therefore, the best option would be to go on loan to a lower League Two team or possibly a National League squad.

But according to a recent piece in The Athletic, Wrexham might also be open to letting him go permanently.

Jake Bickerstaff

Following his sudden introduction to the team at the beginning of the previous season, Parkinson had great admiration for the young player Jake Bickerstaff.

Despite having to step in for Paul Mullin due to an injury, the striker scored his first two goals in August 2023 in League Two against Swindon Town and Walsall.

The 22-year-old’s promise is evident, despite the fact that he did not establish himself in the first team for an extended length of time. In December, his contract was extended.

The addition of Jack Marriott from Fleetwood Town knocked him down the ladder, and he spent the second half of the season on loan at Accrington Stanley.

During his tenure in Lancashire, Bickerstaff made 10 appearances and scored one goal. He is currently still learning the EFL game.

If he starts to score regularly, a second loan stint in League Two might help him gain more confidence.