Wrexham already have a reliable left wing-back in James McClean, but could move to sign another option in that area this summer.
Phil Parkinson will head into the Championship with James McClean as his captain and primary leader of this Wrexham squad.
The Irishman may be 36 now, but he still racked up 39 League One starts as Wrexham clinched promotion.
Parkinson will continue to rely on McClean in the Championship, but may be tempted to add more competition.
Jacob Mendy and Sebastian Revan are still in the Wrexham squad, but neither really managed to push McClean in League One.
The demands now increase in the Championship, with reports now suggesting that Wrexham are interested in signing Liverpool’s Owen Beck.
Beck could follow in the footsteps of Ian Rush – his great-uncle – by joining Wrexham this summer.
We spoke to James Brooke from Rousing the Kop for the lowdown on Beck and how the Welshman could fit in at Wrexham…
Liverpool’s Owen Beck in action against Crystal Palace
Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
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Owen Beck has only made three first-team appearances for Liverpool but has been highly rated throughout his time coming through the ranks. What makes him so highly regarded at Anfield?
Beck’s reputation largely comes from an impressive period during his academy days, where, along with Conor Bradley on the opposite side, he looked a cut above a lot of the other youngsters. In his brief appearances for Liverpool, he has looked fast, direct and aggressive, which always wins over supporters, while he was named player of the season during a loan spell with Dundee and held his own last year in the Championship as well. Being the great-nephew of a certain Ian Rush has also helped him stand out!
Wrexham’s wing-backs tend to stay wide, hit the byline and get crosses into the box. Do you think Beck would suit that style?
In all honesty, that sounds like the absolute ideal set-up for Beck! He is very much in the Andy Robertson style of left-back; marauding forward with pace and looking to make an impact in the final third. He is a little bit one-footed, so he prefers to stay on that left side, and his relentless approach makes him difficult to deal with at both ends of the pitch. He has shown himself to be defensively solid as well and is always game for a bit of a scrap.
Wrexham’s interest in Beck comes just as Liverpool move for Milos Kerkez. Was there ever really a chance of Beck stepping up to first-team action next season?
Liverpool’s plans at left-back looked clear for next season, with Kerkez coming in to challenge Robertson for a starting spot while Kostas Tsimikas moved on. This would clearly leave no room for Beck, and at 22, it has felt like the right time for him to begin his career properly elsewhere. However, Atletico Madrid’s interest in Robertson has left the door open for both he and Tsimikas to leave. Should this happen, Beck would be next in line. While Liverpool may see it as a gamble to go into next season with Kerkez and Beck, the uncertainty over Robertson means it cannot yet be ruled out that Beck stays.
Do you think there is scope for Beck to stay with Liverpool during pre-season and only move on later in the window?
Beck has impressed staff at Anfield this season, and there have already been suggestions that Arne Slot could give him a chance over the summer. Given the developing situations with Tsimikas and Robertson, it would make sense for Slot to take a proper look at him before deciding whether or not to keep him around. It would certainly be a surprise if Beck were to be let out before the start of pre-season, as Liverpool will be keen to see just how big his development at Blackburn has been. This could also play a part in whether Robertson is allowed to leave. So, Wrexham fans might have to be patient!
Beck turns 23 in August, and his contract is up in a year. Do you think a move to Wrexham would be another loan switch, or is there an opportunity for a permanent move?
From the player’s point of view, a permanent transfer would now make the most sense. There is set to be significant change at left-back for Liverpool this season, and if Beck cannot force his way into the first team on the back of that, then it feels like he probably never will. Given his contract situation, there would be little point in Liverpool sanctioning another loan as things stand, so a permanent move could definitely be on the cards. In terms of a transfer fee, the Reds tend to get maximum value for their young prospects, and this could prove a stumbling block. With his potential as a future international already clear, it feels likely that Liverpool would be hoping to bank somewhere in the region of £5m in order to sell Beck. We have often seen players sign new deals before heading out on loan, but a sale for a decent fee would probably suit Liverpool in this instance.
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Our thanks go to James for his answers on Beck here, with the recent Blackburn Rovers loanee clearly highly rated.
Liverpool’s left-back situation appears to be in flux right now, and even with a deal for Kerkez being on the verge of completion, there are other moving parts.
Wrexham may face a wait over any move for Beck, and a potential move may only be settled later in the window.