As Wrexham prepare for life in the Championship, the ambitious Welsh club have earmarked Ben Davies as a potential signing this summer, and bagging the Spurs ace would be a genius move.
We always knew Wrexham would look to go big in their attempts to establish themselves in the second tier, with aspirations to eventually make it to the Premier League within the next decade.
Still, the names the Red Dragons have been linked with already this summer are pretty impressive and very ambitious.
The likes of Jamie Vardy, Tom Cairney, and even Cristiano Ronaldo have been mooted as potential Wrexham signings (no, seriously).
More recently, Tottenham Hotspur’s Ben Davies has been added to that list, with the Welsh defender set to become a free agent this summer.
Here’s why he would be a fantastic signing, what he can offer Wrexham, and why pulling off the transfer will be very difficult.
What Wrexham can expect from Ben Davies
First of all, let’s look at what Ben Davies offers on the pitch in terms of his general playing ability.
One massive advantage of having a player like Davies is, he’s very versatile, being able to play at centre-half or at left-back. He’s also left-footed, which makes him an ideal acquisition for any team looking to bolster that side of the pitch without compromising on a right-footer.
MORE WREXHAM STORIES
What’s more, Davies is an incredibly calm and composed ball-playing defender; another valuable commodity in the modern game.
In a Spurs defence that has suffered injury issues all season, the Welshman has been a consistent and very competent presence. He’s someone who very rarely does the remarkable, but will always deliver on the basics to an impeccable standard, and there’s a lot to be said for that kind of player.
Davies’ most attractive qualities, though, are his work-rate, dedication, and immense experience.
He’s the kind of player who could come in and have a legitimate shout at being Wrexham captain (alongside James McClean, of course). Davies has brilliant leadership skills and his mature head and experience make him an ideal candidate to guide the team through this long-awaited return to the second tier.
Plus, he’s just won a major European trophy with Spurs. Not a bad time to be signing him, then.
Ben Davies is a dream fit for Wrexham, but there is one issue
If Phil Parkinson is to stick with the 3-5-2 formation that served him so well in League One, then Ben Davies would slot into that left-sided centre-half role like a dream for Wrexham.
Naturally, that would push some Wrexham players out, most likely Lewis Brunt. Still, if there’s one thing Wrexham need to do this summer, it’s to look at things objectively and recognise that upgrading the squad is crucial to continuing this incredible success story.
Truth be told, a player like Davies would be an absolute cheat code for the Championship and is the kind of signing that would immediately raise Wrexham from being ambitious underdogs to genuine contenders for a top-six push.
It sounds silly to suggest that a 32-year-old defender could be that influential, but Davies really would be a massive coup for Wrexham despite his age.
The only issue really is whether Davies would want to take that step down to the second tier. There is no doubt he can still offer a lot for a Premier League club, and it would be surprising if he didn’t have offers at that level this summer.
Of course, Wrexham have two advantages: They can offer Davies a return to his native Wales, and they can probably match the financial package he would get for playing in the Premier League, too.
If Wrexham can pull this off, it’ll be a big signal of intent for what they plan to do next season. Now, we just have to wait and see if the Red Dragons can bring the Welshman home.