Wrexham AFC should consider move for player who was recently earning £45k-a-week | OneFootball

Former Wolves defender should be at the top of Wrexham AFC's list of players to sign

The door may have closed for Wrexham in their quest for a few available centre-backs, but there’s another experienced one on the market who would add a lot to the team.

While Wrexham have been active on the transfer market in recent times, adding Liberato Cacace, George Thomason and Josh Windass to the squad, there is still one key position the club has yet to address.

Wrexham have missed out on several big-name centre-backs this summer

Max Cleworth, Eoghan O’Connell and Lewis Brunt were massive in the Red Dragons’ historic third EFL promotion a season ago.

Those were the primary starters in a usual back three last season, and it is thanks to their sound defensive play that this team finished second, conceding the second-fewest goals in League One, while posting 23 clean sheets in the competition.

Wrexham reportedly had their eyes set on a few experienced Championship defenders, with Wales Online referencing in early June that Tottenham’s Ben Davies had been linked to the Dragons, while Harry Darling was reportedly on Phil Parkinson’s radar as well, according to The Leader. Alfie Jones was also linked to the Welsh club by the Daily Mail.

Unfortunately, they couldn’t sway any of them to come to North Wales, with Davies’ one-year extension at Spurs triggered last month. Darling joined Norwich City on a three-year deal, reuniting with his former MK Dons boss Liam Manning, while Jones chose Middlesbrough.

Bringing any of those players to the Racecourse Ground would not have been cheap, but having one of them on the team would add many elements currently missing from this squad at the centre-back position.

Fortunately, there’s another centre-back available, who possesses many similar qualities that would benefit Phil Parkinson.

Craig Dawson is a hugely impactful player

At 35, one might suggest Craig Dawson’s best years are behind him; however, he can still bring a lot to the table.

The Rochdale-born centre-back is without a club after falling out of favor with Wolves manager Vitor Pereira last season.

Given his age, one might assume that opposing teams could penalise him for pace. Some statistics, revealed by the BBC in May, suggest that assumption to be correct, with Dawson ranked as the slowest player in the Premier League. He was clocked at a top speed of 18.42 miles per hour in that Opta poll, which examined Premier League players that had at least 900 minutes under their belt in 2024-25, excluding goalkeepers.

Dawson’s speed may be a question mark, but his other attributes make up for that flaw. Voted to the Europa League Team of the season in the 2021-22 campaign, Dawson is impressive in the air both defensively and in the attacking third. He won over 65% of his aerial duels in the Premier League last season, according to FotMob (65.6%), and is always a threat on set pieces.

Additionally, his defensive positioning is usually sound, with Dawson excelling at recoveries and clearances. While pace is a big part of the Championship, sometimes intelligence can make that flaw seem rather minor.

A combined 10 goals in the Premier League and Championship for Dawson is not a massive amount. Still his towering presence often draws the attention of opposing defenders on corners and can free up space for others.

He’s also a strong ball-playing defender, effective at playing out from the back, with a long-ball accuracy of 51.8% in the Premier League last season, according to FotMob.

He brings a wealth of experience to any side that may want to pay for his services and Wrexham need that in the worst way.

Wrexham should sign former £45k-a-week Premier League defender

Given his track record and top-flight experience, Wrexham may not get much of a discount for Craig Dawson.

According to Capology, he earned a weekly salary of £45,000, with an annual income exceeding £2 million at Wolves last season. On the surface, that will seem like a lot for Wrexham, whose yearly wage bill in 2025, according to Salary Sport, was over £5 million.

Fans might not initially be thrilled that the club is spending excessive money on a centre-back like Dawson, but what he could add to this inexperienced backline would be invaluable.

Even though Lewis Brunt and Max Cleworth are more than capable starters next season, O’Connell and Dan Scarr are question marks. However the backline looks next season, the Red Dragons could benefit immensely from the wisdom of Dawson. He’s also spent nearly a month without a club, so perhaps there’s an opportunity for Phil Parkinson to bring him along at a slight discount.

At the end of the day, the club know the importance of replenishing the side to compete in the Championship, and there are a lot more positives that Dawson would add to the Red Dragons next season.