Wrexham are reportedly interested in a summer transfer move for a current Premier League midfielder, who has been praised by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola in the past
Wrexham owner Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds' Wrexham are claimed to be chasing Tommy Doyle, who impressed Pep Guardiola at Man City
(Image: Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)
Wrexham are reportedly vying for a Premier League talent who Pep Guardiola once lauded as "special".
The Red Dragons, co-owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, are said to be locked in a three-way tussle to snap up Manchester City academy graduate Tommy Doyle.
The 23-year-old midfielder, who currently plays for Wolves, is also on the radar of Wrexham's Championship rivals Birmingham City and Sunderland, who recently clinched promotion to the top tier. It's understood that Wolves are considering loaning him out after he struggled to secure regular playtime under manager Vitor Pereira last term, as reported by the Express and Star.
Doyle only managed 12 Premier League outings following the appointment of Pereira in December. He initially joined Wolves on a temporary basis from Man City two years ago before sealing a permanent move for an estimated £4million the following summer.
A product of City's youth system, Doyle boasts a rich footballing heritage as the grandson of club icons Glyn Pardoe and Mike Doyle. His abilities caught the eye of City manager Guardiola following his involvement in an FA Cup tie against Swansea in February 2021.
After replacing Ilkay Gundogan for a 30-minute spell in the team's 3-1 victory, Doyle's display earned praise from Guardiola.
Tommy Doyle playing for Manchester City
Tommy Doyle impressed Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and has now been linked with Wrexham
Speaking after the match, Guardiola said: "He is a good player, it's not the first time playing in the games. He's a player with a special quality. He takes it, shoots. Another Man City fan. A historic family, the historic Doyle family."
Kyle Walker also lauded his then-City colleague's performance, as well as his integration into the first team.
"Tommy, what a great player," Walker said. "And a good lad as well. An exciting talent, he wants to learn and it's a pleasure working with him. I've seen plenty of kids come through the ranks at numerous clubs with a chip on their shoulder but he's very good and very down to earth."
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Doyle has notched up 50 Premier League appearances for Wolves, including 24 matches last season. He achieved promotion from the Championship two years ago during a loan stint with Sheffield United.
As they gear up for their inaugural campaign in the second tier after 43 years, Wrexham are keen to strengthen their squad. It follows Phil Parkinson's team achieving a remarkable third consecutive promotion from League One last season.
Striker Ryan Hardie was Wrexham's first summer acquisition, having signed from Plymouth last month, before Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward joined on Tuesday. The possibility of Doyle leaving Wolves arose after manager Pereira cast doubts over his suitability for the team's counter-attacking style of play.
Speaking in April, Pereira said: "Technically-speaking, he's a very good player, but in my opinion he's missing the physicality to face this league. To run 50 metres, to come back 50 metres and then go 50 metres again.
"We are not a team to have 80 per cent of possession, so he has problems. If we are a team that has the ball every time, doesn't allow counter-attacks and keeps the ball to dominate the opponent, this is the team for him.
"But we need to understand that we face top teams, top players. We need to run a lot and he's missing this physicality, especially when we play with two midfielders. With three midfielders, I believe he is a 10 with high quality. The last pass, shots, crosses – he has those skills."