Rotherham United, Barnsley and Gillingham join transfer race for Wrexham AFC man | OneFootball

Rotherham United, Barnsley and Gillingham have all joined the multi-club race for Wrexham midfielder Harry Ashfield before the window concludes

Wrexham midfielder Harry Ashfield has emerged as a hot property in the dying embers of this summer's transfer window, with League Two duo Rotherham United and Gillingham joining the race for the Welshman's sought-after services alongside Barnsley.

Clubs throughout the EFL pyramid remain in search of last-grasp deals before the window slams shut at 11pm on Tuesday and that's no different with the likes of Barnsley, Rotherham and Gillingham, who are among a litany of outfits eager to snap up Ashfield's signature in time.

It's poised to be one of the most frantic sagas outside of the top-two divisions as an increasing number of sides enter the battle to lure Ashfield away from the Stok Cae Ras in the coming days, with free-spending Wrexham still likely to sanction a few exits as Phil Parkinson bids to trim his squad where he sees fit ahead of a fresh push for promotion to the Premier League.

Barnsley, Rotherham and Gillingham join Wrexham, Harry Ashfield transfer race

This latest development comes courtesy of an update via X from Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke, who reported new interest in the coveted 20-year-old on Thursday evening.

Speculation surrounding Ashfield's future is only intensifying, and according to O'Rourke, numerous clubs have now submitted offers in an effort to secure a deal with Wrexham.

Action Images

It's said that Barnsley, Rotherham and Gillingham have all made formal proposals to land the ex-Cheltenham Town loanee, although Peterborough United of League One and Scottish top-flight outfit St. Mirren have also followed suit with just days to spare from the current window.

Ashfield, who spent the second-half of the previous campaign on loan in League Two with the Robins, is reportedly keen to depart Wrexham, where he believes his pathway to frequent first-team football is blocked as Parkinson continues to overhaul his expensively-assembled squad.

Last week, meanwhile, Football League World exclusively revealed interest in Ashfield from Doncaster Rovers, Wigan Athletic and League Two title hopefuls Salford City, with the trio understood to have been exploring the terms of either a temporary or permanent move for the Welsh U21 international.

However, it now appears as though the likes of Rotherham, Gillingham and Barnsley have stolen a march on other divisional rivals to move ahead in the congested race by amplifying their respective levels of interest with offers to the Welsh club.

Harry Ashfield impressed on loan at Cheltenham as Barnsley, Rotherham and Gillingham join transfer race

Ashfield, of course, caught the eye at fourth-tier level with Cheltenham to earn wider interest across the EFL, and that temporary stint in Gloucestershire has done the highly-rated midfield man the world of good.

Interestingly, Ashfield would actually open his goalscoring account in a dramatic 3-2 victory over eventual play-off finalists Salford back in February, which will have only placed the Ammies on alert.

The Wrexham academy product went on to help Cheltenham to an 18th-placed finish, weighing in with two goals and an assist from 17 outings after racking up just nine senior appearances throughout various seasons on the periphery in North Wales.

It's little wonder, then, that Ashfield is intent on securing consistent football elsewhere in the EFL, and no shortage of clubs are willing to offer that up before the clock runs out this summer.

Peterborough United have been backed to beat Barnsley, Rotherham and Gillingham to Wrexham's Harry Ashfield

Exactly who will win the ever-intensifying race for Ashfield remains unclear at this moment in time and many sides are clearly fancying their chances, but some may just have a better shot than others.

Indeed, reaction to the latest update involving the midfielder's future features a clear theme, with Peterborough being backed by fans online to seal the deal.

Barnsley, for example, may well represent the biggest club to be in for Ashfield, and that factor could hold clear merit when the player assesses his options.

Ashfield could leave Wrexham either temporarily or permanently, and the Red Dragons faithful would ideally like to see him join Barnsley or Peterborough in particular, citing Posh's renowned ability to recruit and develop talent at an impressively-consistent rate.

Indeed, a lot of Wrexham supporters are hoping that Ashfield doesn't end up leaving full-time, with the school of thought still very much that he could have a long-term future with his boyhood club - even if the player himself perhaps sees it differently.

This one fan summed up the view of many by voicing that Peterborough is the best destination for a young prospect looking to develop further, with Luke Williams' side often going on to collect huge profits further down the line.

Another Wrexham supporter is hoping that it's either Barnsley or Peterborough where the in-demand starlet lands in the days to come.

A Gillingham supporter, meanwhile, hardly feels bullish about his side's chances of completing a deal, and believes that this transfer saga could instead be nailed-on for Peterborough to win owing to the aforementioned factors.