Wrexham AFC should consider move for Leeds United promotion-winner - it isn’t Patrick Bamford | OneFootball

Liam Cooper is looking for his next club, perhaps Wrexham should be atop that list

Liam Cooper's year-long stay in Bulgaria has ended after he departed CSKA Sofia this summer.

Both the player and the club mutually agreed to terminate his contract, meaning that he is once again on the move for the second time in as many seasons - a slight change after he spent the preceding ten years at Leeds United.

Whilst at Elland Road, Cooper became somewhat of a fan favourite, as he wore the armband during the club's most successful period of late under Marcelo Bielsa, which included a promotion back to the Premier League after 16 years away.

The 33-year-old is a natural leader, with 220 of his 284 Whites appearances taking place as captain, and whilst he may be entering the twilight years of his career, it's arguable that he can still offer something to a side in the Championship.

And if Wrexham are once again targeting experience this summer, then they should be looking at bringing in players who have won the division in the past

If it's Leeds players they're looking at, however, it shouldn't be Patrick Bamford they target, and instead, they should have an eye on bringing in Cooper on a free transfer.

Bamford, of course, has recently been linked with a move to Wrexham last season after being deemed surplus to requirements at Elland Road by Daniel Farke following Leeds' return to the Premier League, meaning any interest from the Red Dragons could well materialise, but they should really be setting their sights on Cooper.

Liam Cooper would be a good, experienced fit at Wrexham

Wrexham are yet to see a centre-back through the door at The Racecourse Ground this summer, but perhaps for good reason, as Phil Parkinson didn't lose many important players in that position. Will Boyle, who didn't make an appearance in League One last season, has been the only recognised central defender to depart.

This leaves the Red Dragons with the likes of Max Cleworth and Lewis Brunt, two exciting defenders under the age of 25, and then Dan Scarr, Eoghan O'Connell and Thomas O'Connor as players approaching, or in, their traditional primes in their ranks.

So, Wrexham are rather saturated in that position, but unlike seemingly every other position in the side, they are missing an experienced head; someone who is in their 30s and perhaps coming to the end of their careers.

Only Scarr out of their five established central defenders comes into this season with Championship experience, having played just 28 times in the 2023/24 campaign at Plymouth Argyle.

Cooper would come into the club having made over 207 bows in the English second tier, alongside a further 66 Premier League games. That level of background is, as seen previously with Wrexham, key to striking a balance within the side.

The 33-year-old, who will turn 34 in late August, provides that in spades, and wouldn't particularly take too much game time away from the likes of Cleworth and Brunt, who clearly still have room to grow.

Liam Cooper is the best choice at centre-back for Wrexham

It seems that Parkinson is on the lookout for a central defender addition before the end of the summer transfer window, with recent reports outlining a £2 million bid for Leicester City's Conor Coady.

Coady would clearly provide more in terms of playing quality than Cooper, having spent more time playing in the top flight, alongside a handful of appearances in UEFA competitions, but in terms of leadership, there isn't much between the two, as both are seen as elite in that regard.

Therefore, someone like Cooper should be the better option. Firstly, he'd be available on a free transfer, and whilst it's no secret that Wrexham do have money to throw around this summer, saving in positions like these can free up funds to make a splash elsewhere.

Also, he would provide a talking head in the changing rooms whilst not standing in the way of the likes of Cleworth and Brunt, who arguably should be playing most weeks to continue their growth.

Coady, at 32, would arguably demand more game time than Cooper next season, and whilst the Englishman would make Wrexham more assured at the back in the short term, he might not be the best long-term option.

Ultimately, it depends on what Phil Parkinson and co want to prioritise this season, and whether they believe survival is almost a guarantee. Players who have been there and done that at Championship level should be prioritised, but the growth of their future stars, especially Cleworth, should arguably be an even bigger focus.