Wrexham set to beat West Brom to ex-Watford player | OneFootball

The Red Dragons are currently leading the race to loan in Festy Ebosele

Wrexham are set to fend off competition from West Bromwich Albion to secure the loan signing of Republic of Ireland international Festy Ebosele from Turkish Süper Lig outfit, Istanbul Basaksehir.

That is according to David Sneyd via X, with there now just a matter of hours left for Championship clubs to finalise their transfer dealings.

It has been well-documented that the Red Dragons and the Baggies are enduring extremely contrasting campaigns in the second tier this term, despite the fact both clubs were tipped to fight for the play-off places come the end of the season.

Wrexham are currently one of the Championship's most in-form teams after finally breaking into the play-off places in the final week of January after recording successive away victories over Queens Park Rangers and Sheffield Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a dire season at The Hawthorns has only continued for the West Midlands side under the management of former Minnesota United head coach, Eric Ramsay.

Despite being linked with a whole host of potential new signings since the current window opened on New Year's Day, the North Wales club and Albion have only completed a combined total of three incomings thus far.

Indeed, the only confirmed incoming at the Stok Cae Ras as yet came on Sunday evening in the form of experienced defender, Zak Vyner, who penned a three-and-a-half year deal after an undisclosed fee was agreed with Bristol City.

The Baggies have also done business with the Robins by acquiring the services of goalkeeper, Max O'Leary, as well as securing a loan switch for Aston Villa's Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba earlier on Deadline Day.

However, Ramsay - who is yet to emerge victorious in B71 - has seen his chances of striking a second loan deal of the day take a hit, with Wrexham in pole position in the transfer battle that would see Ebosele return to England.

Wrexham AFC leading West Brom in loan battle for Festy Ebosele

Sneyd's aforementioned update references Ebosele's immediate future, as well as that of his international counterparts in the form of Johnny Kenny and Andrew Moran.

The 23-year-old right-back has previous Championship experience after breaking into the first-team fold at Derby County under Wayne Rooney, before spending the first half of last season on loan with Watford after the Hornets struck a loan agreement with Udinese.

However, in the final stages of the current window, it has emerged that Phil Parkinson's side are leading West Brom in the race to loan the 13-time international from the Istanbul-based side, for whom he has made 25 appearances since signing a three-and-a-half year deal 12 months ago.

It has been widely reported that Wrexham are in the market for a wing-back who will provide competition for Issa Kabore, with Alan Nixon reporting links to Kosta Nedeljković of Aston Villa and Portsmouth ace, Terry Devlin, although Football League World exclusively revealed the Northern Irishman would cost £2m if he was to move from Fratton Park.

Festy Ebosele would be a shrewd addition for Wrexham AFC

At present, Kabore is the only loan member of Wrexham's squad from Manchester City, meaning there is plenty of scope for a short-term deal involving Ebosele to be completed.

The Irishman has featured 18 times in all competitions this term, and is known for his pace and power, which will certainly benefit Parkinson's 3-4-2-1 system.

A move for Ebosele would only add to the excitement generated in this part of Wales, with FLW also understanding that the club are expected to sign Davis Keillor-Dunn in the coming hours, as well as a move for Bailey Cadamarteri of Sheffield Wednesday.