Wrexham have prioritised signing Arthur Okonkwo on a permanent deal from Arsenal, but if that isn’t possible, there are plenty of options Phil Parkinson could look at elsewhere.
Wrexham will look to get the ball rolling with their transfer business after their final match against Stockport County on Saturday.
Executive director Humphrey Ker has already claimed that capturing Arthur Okonkwo on a permanent deal from Arsenal is the club’s priority, although there is a big problem.
The Daily Mail report that several Championship and European clubs are interested in the 22-year-old, which could make signing him a difficult proposition.
Phil Parkinson must have a contingency plan if his number one doesn’t return, with several quality goalkeepers available, including a “magnificent” Premier League shot-stopper.
Here are three goalkeepers Wrexham should look at signing.
Jon McLaughlin
While Okonkwo is at the start of his career, Jon McLaughlin is approaching the end.
The 36-year-old, currently contracted at Rangers still the end of the season, will be available on a free transfer.
Similarly to when they signed Ben Foster, capturing McLaughlin – who worked with Parkinson during his time at Sunderland – would fill a short-term void in between the sticks.
McLaughlin is vastly experienced in League One, having featured 169 times across spells at Bradford City, Burton Albion and the Black Cats.
In terms of experience in the third tier, there aren’t many better in the market than the veteran goalkeeper, who wouldn’t cost the club a penny in transfer fees.
Remi Matthews
Remi Matthews was Parkinson’s goalkeeper during their League One title-winning campaign in the 2019/20 season and then later signed him for Sunderland.
Parkinson could make it a hat-trick of clubs he’s worked with him at this summer as the 30-year-old is out of contract with Crystal Palace.
Having only made one appearance in three years with a loan spell at Kilmarnock sandwiched in between, the “magnificent” shot-stopper could be sold by the idea of becoming Wrexham’s number one.
After all, Matthews has played more games in the third tier (76) than any other level and would be a smart signing.
Ovie Ejeheri
While Matthews and McLaughlin would represent captures of experienced goalkeepers, the signing of Ovie Ejeheri would see Wrexham go down the Okonkwo route.
Much like the Reds’ current number one, Ejeheri sees his contract at Arsenal expire in June, which opens the door for him to leave on a free transfer.
The 21-year-old has kept three clean sheets in 13 Premier League 2 appearances this term while enjoying loan spells at Finnish side SJK Seinäjoki last season and National League South team Chelmsford City.
Although he isn’t as developed as Okonkwo, the young shot-stopper could be worth signing with the future in mind.
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