Wrexham AFC can make transfer splash by signing EFL stalwart departing West Brom | OneFootball

Signing departing John Swift from West Brom would be a massive coup for Wrexham AFC

As we approach the start of the EFL summer transfer window, there is one clear priority Wrexham AFC must address ahead of their Championship campaign.

Phil Parkinson’s side showed this past season how far defensive commitment, unity, and overall hard work can go. Those three qualities, sprinkled in with some individual brilliance, got them into the Championship, but it’s difficult to fathom that such a formula will make them a contender in 2025-26.

Consistent dynamism and creativity in the middle of the field were in short supply for this team in League One, and there’s no better time to find a player of that caliber than this summer.

Wrexham’s League One chances came in one key area

Over the previous domestic campaign, the bulk of Wrexham’s scoring opportunities came thanks to some outstanding play from their wide players and the quality of Sam Smith and Steven Fletcher, among others.

According to FotMob, the North Welsh outfit led the league in accurate crosses per match (5.8) last season. Three of their top four leaders regarding assists in League One last season, per ESPN, were players who traditionally operate out wide, Ryan Barnett (nine), James McClean (seven) and Ryan Longman (four), further proof of how dependent they were on the crossing of their wing-backs.

Sandwiched in between that list was George Dobson, who had five assists domestically while covering a ton of ground and winning balls all over the pitch.

John Swift’s versatility makes him an ideal signing

For the Wrexham attack to be a consistent threat in the Championship, they need a player with vision, pass accuracy, experience and versatility.

John Swift ticks all those boxes and more. The West Bromwich Albion midfielder will officially become a free agent on June 30, with the former Baggies manager, Tony Mowbray, confirming he’ll leave this summer, via the Express & Star. His experience at that level and technical ability should be something many other Championship sides are looking for, including the Red Dragons.

While he only had one assist domestically and three goals this past season, he showed some exquisite passing while also netting a spectacular free-kick goal against Burnley.

Swift’s pass accuracy was over 87% (87.6) in the Championship last season per FotMob, which is impressive for a player at his position. He also won 54.8% of his duels. Stats aside, he’s shown the ability to deliver that killer pass in dangerous areas, while many of his set-piece goals will be remembered forever.

His biggest flaw may be that he looks for the pass rather than going for the goal himself. That said, the former Chelsea youth player has netted over five goals in six different Championship campaigns, while reaching double-digits for assists twice at that level, and getting to nine another time.

John Swift would fit in seamlessly at Wrexham

It’s difficult to find a reason Wrexham should not pursue John Swift in the upcoming transfer window. They need an attacking midfielder in the worst way, and the Hawthorns player is a high-level contributor that can play on the wing or in the centre of the park.

The Red Dragons have their share of workhorses in midfield, which is not Swift’s strong suit. However, he can deliver pinpoint through balls and can see what’s happening a step or two before the opposition.

Sam Smith would be thrilled to have a playmaker of his quality feed him the ball as it would make his job much simpler than we saw in League One. Not only would Swift’s distribution be a huge asset for Parkinson, but the precision and quality with which he hits his set pieces will bring the Racecourse Ground to their feet and raise the energy level of the group.

At the moment, Wrexham don’t have a free-kick specialist anywhere near as strong as Swift. You’d think his quality in dead-ball situations would bring this team to life when needed, as there are bound to be moments in a long season when the Red Dragons are lost and lacking inspiration.

Wrexham should make a transfer splash and sign Swift

Swift’s attributes would be a dream for a Wrexham side that aspire to get to the Premier League sooner rather than later. He would be a significant piece to their puzzle, but even with all of his qualities, they may not need to splash much cash to sign him as one may think.

According to Salary Sport, Swift’s annual wages in the West Midlands were just over £1 million in all three of his Championship campaigns. He may have just had his worst season statistically regarding goals and assists for West Brom, so he probably won’t get a salary offer higher than what he earned with the Baggies.

His name doesn’t always show up on the scoresheet, but many of the goals he scored at West Brom and Reading were the result of attacks he started, while his ability to draw defenders to him should free up space for Smith and the other Wrexham attacking players.

The club’s budget for the Championship will increase, although over the past five seasons the Red Dragons didn’t spend as extravagantly as many outsiders may have thought.

Swift is well within their budget and seems keen to move on and make an impact at a new club. Making a splash like this makes perfect sense for both parties, who could stand to gain a lot if they can make it work.