Jordan James to Wolves transfer truth revealed as Wrexham revelation emerges | OneFootball

Jordan James has revealed he was close to joining Wrexham last summer and rejected a Premier League club this time around to join Wolves

Wolves and Welsh international midfielder Jordan James has revealed he was close to joining Wrexham last summer, and that he turned down at least one Premier League club to join the Molineux outfit this summer.

In an interview with BBC Sport, James said he was close to joining Welsh outfit Wrexham in the Championship last summer, but ultimately chose Leicester City instead.

The 22-year-old was vindicated in his decision, scoring 11 and grabbing four assists in 34 league games for the Foxes despite suffering relegation to League One, winning Leicester's Player of the Season and Championship Young Player of the Season for his efforts, and upon his return to Stade Rennes in the summer, was not short on options.

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James, after an outstanding year on a personal level in the Championship for Leicester, returned to France with his head held high, and knowing a big move was likely on the table heading into the summer.

The Birmingham City academy product, who would opt to join Wolves, has now revealed in an interview with BBC Sport that he was close to joining second-tier rivals Wrexham last summer, saying: "That ship sailed I think. It was on last year.

"I'm glad I went to Leicester, I had such a good season - I enjoyed it so much."

James further opens up on his decision to join Wolves this summer, and when asked whether he could have moved to the Premier League, said: "There were a lot of opportunities. I had a lot of offers on the table. I just didn't think it was right.

"I didn't want to go to the Premier League and be in a losing team again.

"I've been in a losing team now with Birmingham and with Leicester, I want to win games."

Certainly, the Welshman will have become increasingly popular in one half of the Black Country with those comments, as both Birmingham and Leicester supporters likely won't have taken too kindly to his reasoning.

Why Jordan James was in high demand amid Wolverhampton Wanderers switch

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James, after snubbing offers from the English top flight, joined Wolves instead on a season-long loan deal from Rennes, which includes the option to buy the 22-year-old at the end of it for around £10 million.

With 15 direct goal contributions from midfield in a relegated Leicester side doomed for League One, James was one of, if not the only, players to come away from that season in the Leicester squad holding his head high.

At 22, there is the sense that James will only get better, and with 26 senior Wales caps under his belt already, he boasts a lot of experience for his age, something that Wolves boss Cesar Peixoto will likely find invaluable.

James has yet to start a game in the second tier for the Old Gold this season, being limited to minutes from the bench as things stand as he builds up fitness, and it would be no surprise to see him becoming a pivotal player at Molineux as the season continues.

Cesar Peixoto will be looking to Jordan James to guide Wolverhampton Wanderers back to the Premier League

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With Marshall Munetsi and Andre seemingly Peixoto's preferred midfield pairing in the early stages of this season, James does not face the simple task of walking into the side as he did with Leicester.

The likes of Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Tommy Doyle, Fer Lopez, and Boubacar Traore are all offering competition across the midfield as well; as though James is capable of playing deeper or further forward, his route into the side is far from simple.

It would be a surprise if his minutes for Wolves don't drastically increase as the season bleeds on, especially since he revealed his decision to regret Premier League offers to head to Molinuex.