Wrexham snapped up Callum Doyle last week, fending off significant competition in order to sign the former Manchester City defender.
Wrexham have played a back three throughout Phil Parkinson’s reign, and three promotions in a row suggest that it has worked pretty well.
Left-footed centre-backs have been in demand in recent times, with managers across the game committing major funds to signing left-footed defenders.
The balance provided in build-up play is hugely beneficial, especially in a back three like Parkinson’s Wrexham.
Thomas O’Connor has played that role in years gone by, but he split time with the right-footed Lewis Brunt last season.
Wrexham needed to invest in a quality left-footed defender this summer, and Parkinson certainly splashed the cash on an exciting talent.
Callum Doyle of Norwich City reacts
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Michael Williamson on bringing Callum Doyle to Wrexham
Wrexham confirmed the signing of Callum Doyle on Thursday, securing the England Under-21 international in a huge move from Manchester City.
Doyle has arrived in a seven-figure deal, with the fee potentially rising to around £7.5million with add-ons.
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The 21-year-old has spent the last four seasons out on loan away from City, spending time with Sunderland, Coventry City, Leicester City and Norwich City.
Now ready to settle down at Wrexham, Doyle represents a major coup – especially as other clubs were interested.
Rangers and Sheffield United wanted to sign Doyle, but he has chosen a move to the STōK Cae Ras.
Wrexham CEO Michael Williamson has now told Wrexham Matchday Live that he personally travelled to meet with City in an attempt to force the deal over the line.
Williamson noted that, rather than simply exchanging messages, he spent time at City’s campus in Manchester to agree the deal ‘over a cup of coffee’.
Williamson enjoyed the ‘old-fashioned’ way of getting a deal done, and believes that Doyle choosing Wrexham just goes to show the club’s appeal.
“In that case, I actually went up to Man City’s campus there, and sat down around the table,” said Williamson.
“It was a little bit of an old-fashioned way, instead of exchanging emails back and forth, or WhatsApp messages, we sat around the table and worked out the deal the old-fashioned way over a cup of coffee.
“Those things are important for us to get across the line. In that case, he had other clubs that were looking at him, but that’s just a testament of what we have here and have built as a foundation here with this club – we’re a place that top players want to come to,” he added.
Callum Doyle surely set for Wrexham debut
Doyle was named on the bench to face Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, but he was not handed his debut.
Instead, Doyle’s first game for Wrexham could come on Tuesday night, as Phil Parkinson takes his side to face Preston North End in the Carabao Cup.
Both sides will rest and rotate players for this game, and this may be the perfect time for Doyle to step into the side.
Wrexham fans will be keen to see Doyle make a fast start to his career with the club, and a strong Carabao Cup performance would surely put him in contention to face Millwall this weekend.