Stockport County join Wrexham AFC in ambitious transfer race for 23-cap international ahead of Rangers exit | OneFootball

Tom Lawrence's time at Rangers is coming to an end

Stockport County have joined Wrexham in the race to sign Tom Lawrence, who recently departed SPFL giants, Rangers, meaning the 31-year-old is available on a free transfer.

That is according to a fresh report from Amar Mehta and Anthony Joseph of Sky Sports on the publication's Transfer Centre live blog (13:05 - 22/06), as the Hatters look to cement themselves as promotion contenders in League One once again next term.

Dave Challinor's record at Edgeley Park has been exemplary, with the Cheshire side rising from the National League to the third-tier play-offs within four years under the 49-year-old's management, and many have tipped them to be among the front-runners for the top six once more in a division which includes the likes of Luton Town, Cardiff City and Plymouth Argyle alongside Huddersfield Town and Bolton Wanderers, who have both invested heavily thus far.

Stockport fell short in the post-season lottery, losing to Leyton Orient on penalties in SK3 last month, but are hoping their project can be enough to lure Lawrence to the club whilst facing competition from his hometown club and several other Championship outfits, with the Red Dragons expected to invest heavily this summer ahead of their first second tier campaign since 1982.

Stockport County enter Tom Lawrence transfer race alongside Wrexham AFC, West Brom and Coventry City

Lawrence's time at Ibrox has been incredibly mixed since joining on a free transfer under Giovanni van Bronckhorst in the summer of 2022 after departing the then-financially crippled Derby County.

The attacking midfielder made 69 appearances for the Light Blues in said timeframe, scoring 12 times and registering a further seven assists.

During his final campaign with the Scottish giants, Lawrence was the subject of interest from many clubs in the second tier after it was revealed last year that Rangers would demand £5m for his services, whilst the likes of Burnley and Sheffield United were linked with a potential move in January.

West Brom, Wrexham and Coventry City were namedropped as potential destinations for the former Manchester United academy graduate as last season drew to a close, a situation which TEAMtalk backed up in a fresher report, alongside reported interest from Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers back in April.

Alongside the plethora of Championship sides looking to strike an agreement with the 30-year-old free agent as he joined Leon Balogun and Ianis Hagi on the list of senior departures in Glasgow, it has now been reported that Stockport are interested in enticing the 23-time Welsh international to drop into League One for the first time in just under 12 years, which came during a loan spell with Carlisle United.

Tom Lawrence would represent another major coup for Stockport County amid Championship interest

Whilst many would assume that the prospect of joining Wrexham at this stage of his career, given the glitz and glamour now associated with the North Wales club, would be a significant pull for Lawrence, Stockport will still fancy their chances of signing the experienced playmaker.

County also have previous examples of defying the odds when it comes to attracting players of a similar ilk, with Ollie Norwood joining the club last summer following their League Two title-winning season and going on to be an integral part of the attacking and creative flair that was displayed at Edgeley Park for the majority of the campaign.

With Challinor signing a fresh three-year contract extension, beating the Welsh side and the likes of West Brom and Coventry, who will be fancied to challenge for the Championship play-off positions for a player of Lawrence's ability would only increase the positivity surrounding Stockport at this moment in time, and it would certainly make divisional rivals aware of their intent.