Wrexham AFC: Conor Coady transfer claim issued - Leicester City may have struck gold with £2m fee | OneFootball

Conor Coady signed for Wrexham this summer for £2 million from Leicester City

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Conor Coady played 22 times in the Premier League last season for Leicester City before his move to Wrexham this summer, but despite the drop in division, he has already lost his place in Phil Parkinson's starting 11.

The Liverpool academy graduate has had a successful career in both the Championship and Premier League for numerous clubs, but the 32-year-old now finds himself struggling for game time in the second tier for the newly-promoted Red Dragons.

The 10-cap former England international joined the Welsh outfit this summer from Leicester for a fee believed to be in and around the £2 million mark, and this was seen as a major coup at the time, given his level of quality and experience, joining the likes of Nathan Broadhead, Kieffer Moore and Callum Doyle to head to the Racecourse Ground this summer.

Coady penned a two-year deal for Phil Parkinson's side, with the club possessing the option to extend for a further year if they wished, on an estimated £25,000-per-week, making him the second-highest paid player at the club, only behind Moore.

It had been expected that Coady would almost certainly be one of the centre-backs in Parkinson's preferred back-three system this campaign, but it hasn't exactly panned out that way as yet.

Conor Coady transfer fee criticised amid Wrexham AFC struggles

Football League World's Wrexham fan pundit, Liam Grice, has shared his thoughts on whether the £2 million purchase of Coady was actually a jackpot for Leicester, and whether Wrexham have been left with egg on their face over the deal.

Liam told FLW, "Initially, to be fair, I did think that £2 million was a lot for Conor Coady.

"Obviously, we know the quality he has, but there was always a question mark about whether he still had it in terms of performing week in, week out, and it has turned out that that is not really the case, to be honest.

"The fee was a lot, but I think the experience that he has added to that dressing room, given all the new players that came in, there needed to be some central leading figures, and Conor Coady is definitely one of them.

"I don't think he is a guaranteed starter now. I don't think he will be involved week in, week out, but what he does offer off the pitch is very, very valuable.

"Is it worth £2 million? No, not really, but I wouldn't necessarily call him a flop either.

Conor Coady is a major outlier in key defensive statistics - Wrexham fans will not be impressed

When Coady has played, it's safe to say he has struggled, which has ultimately seen him drop out of the side in recent games.

The former Wolves captain started each of Wrexham's first five Championship games this season, but having lost 3-1 at home to Queens Park Rangers, Coady was dropped, and has not earned a minute of league football since.

In fact, Coady is statistically the worst-performing centre-back in the Championship this season in a combination of both the percentage of aerial duels won and progressive actions per 90 minutes.

Max Cleworth, Dominic Hyam and Callum Doyle have seemingly nailed down the starting centre-back spots in Coady's absence, and he will seemingly struggle to force his way back into the side anytime soon.

It's too early to say whether Wrexham will regret the deal to sign Coady from Leicester, but at the moment, it certainly seems the Foxes were the winners in the deal.