Ipswich Town plot move to hijack Wrexham in race to sign ex-Birmingham City star Jordan James | OneFootball

The Tractor Boys are ready to swoop for the Wrexham target ahead of the transfer deadline.

Ipswich Town are plotting to hijack Wrexham's potential move for ex-Birmingham City and current Rennes midfielder, Jordan James.

The Tractor Boys and the Red Dragons have both perhaps not enjoyed the starts to their respective 2025/26 Championship campaigns that they would've been hoping for.

Both Kieran McKenna and Phil Parkinson's sides are still searching for their first three points of the season, with the two clubs sitting 18th and 19th in the table after three games.

However, not only are they rivalling each other in terms of league position at this moment in time, they also look set to do transfer battle for what could be a huge signing for either team.

Ipswich Town rivalling Wrexham for Jordan James deal

It was revealed last weekend by journalist Alan Nixon via Patreon that Wrexham had irons in the fire for as many as three midfield targets.

Southampton's Will Smallbone has been the subject of a £7.5m bid from the Welsh outfit, whilst West Ham United's Andy Irving was also said to have received an offer to bring him to the Racecourse Ground - which he has reportedly since turned down.

The third player was named as Rennes' Jordan James, who has been plying his trade with the French Ligue 1 side since last summer, when he moved from Birmingham City.

It was reported then that Wrexham were already discussing their readiness to outbid the likes of Parma and Ipswich Town in order to secure the signature of the 21-year-old Welsh international, and now they may have to prove that.

That's because a new update from Nixon on Wednesday has revealed that Ipswich are now rivalling Wrexham for a deal for James, with both clubs hoping to hold talks with Rennes and the player by the weekend.

It may well come down to who has the stronger sales pitch too, as James is said to be up for meeting with both teams, having been told he can leave Rennes this summer.

Nixon states that Wrexham's offer on the table is currently larger than Ipswich's, but despite that and the suggestion from Nixon that James is 'swayed' by the whole story surrounding Wrexham, the Suffolk outfit are hoping they can talk him into signing on at Portman Road.

Parma are said to be offering a loan to buy deal, whilst the two Championship clubs are proposing a straight purchase agreement.

Ipswich Town perhaps need Jordan James more than Wrexham

Both Wrexham and Ipswich Town make obvious appeal for James for varying reasons.

Naturally, the opportunity as a Welsh player to sign for the rapidly ascending Red Dragons with all their financial might and worldwide fame would surely prove very tough for the midfielder to turn down.

However, Ipswich have that recent taste of Premier League football, and with a playing squad that is laden with high-class players at Championship level, it would take a brave soul to bet against them snapping out of their early season form soon before beginning to stamp their authority on the division.

But when weighing up the two clubs purely from the prospect of playing time, James may well see Ipswich as being the wiser choice.

Indeed, McKenna has waved goodbye to the likes of Omari Hutchinson, Massimo Luongo, Sam Morsy, Julio Enciso and Kalvin Phillips this summer, which has seen his midfield engine room stripped of some serious talent.

Jens Cajuste and Azor Matusiwa have arrived to help remedy that, but aside from those two, McKenna's options in central midfield are extremely light.

On the flip side, Wrexham have an embarrassment of riches available to them in the middle of the park.

George Thomason, Lewis O'Brien, Matty James, George Dobson, Harry Ashfield, Elliot Lee, George Evans, Andy Cannon and Oli Rathbone are all part of Parkinson's squad.

Therefore, he may well have a far easier time carving out a key role with the Tractor Boys than with the Red Dragons, but he would also surely back himself to come into that Wrexham side and win a place in the starting XI too.