Wrexham have been beaten to top defensive target Alfie Jones after another Championship side agreed a deal for the 27-year-old.
Reports over the past few weeks have linked Phil Parkinson’s team to the Hull City centre back, with the Daily Mail’s Simon Jones reporting earlier in the week that the Red Dragons were weighing up a £3 million bid for the Southampton academy graduate. Jones was in the final year of his contract and with The Tigers in uncertainty following a transfer embargo, it looked a deal was possible to raise funds.
Wrexham Miss Out
The Welsh side have spent big this week already with an agreement to sign Bolton Wanderers’ George Thomason for a seven-figure fee, but according to Hull Live, they have been beaten to Jones by Middlesbrough, who have agreed a £3 million fee with Hull. The defender is believed to be set to travel to the Riverside Stadium in order to complete a deal.
The signing marks the first of Rob Edwards’ tenure on Teesside, after his appointment to replace Michael Carrick following another near miss of their ambitions of a Premier League return.
Whilst sales have been facilitated, including Josh Coburn who moved to Millwall for a club-record fee for The Lions, Boro have been greeted with headaches trying to sign new players. Their pursuit of Callum Brittain has been disrupted with Blackburn Rovers insisting that the club meet their valuation of the full-back, and any potential move has been jeopardised by Derby County having a bid accepted for the 27-year-old.
Wrexham have already added to their defence this summer with the signing of New Zealand international Liberato Cacace and have places at centre-back in the squad available after releasing William Boyle to League Two side Gillingham earlier in the window.
Writers’ View
This is a slight blow to Wrexham’s summer plans with the news that Alfie Jones will be heading to Middlesbrough. His Championship experience would have been vital to Wrexham as they look to continue their astronomical rise under Phil Parkinson. With nearly 200 appearances and a Player of the Season award under his belt, the 27-year-old will now head to Teesside as a great option to Rob Edwards, and will soften the blow of a potential exit for Rav van den Berg. Nevertheless, the Red Dragons will be unfazed by this setback as they attack the transfer market in other areas.
