Football League World
·8 luglio 2025
Wrexham AFC set to rival Middlesbrough in transfer race for 7-goal forward

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Yahoo sportsFootball League World
·8 luglio 2025
Boro appear to have Championship company in their pursuit of the top flight winger.
Wrexham AFC are set to rival Middlesbrough for the signing of NEC Nijmegen forward Sontje Hansen.
The Red Dragons have already made the eye-catching additions of goalkeeper Danny Ward and ex-Plymouth Argyle centre-forward Ryan Hardie this summer.
The newly promoted Championship side have also reportedly agreed a club-record £5m deal to sign Nottingham Forest central midfielder Lewis O'Brien, as they look to continue their world-famous rise up the English football pyramid next season.
Middlesbrough, on the other hand, are yet to make a first-team signing this summer, but with new boss Rob Edwards now with his feet firmly under the desk, progress on the recruitment front looks set to accelerate in the coming weeks.
It was first reported by journalist Lorenzo Lepore on Monday that Middlesbrough are making headway in their pursuit of NEC Nijmegen winger Sontje Hansen.
Lepore revealed that negotiations are still ongoing, and that Boro club officials have travelled to the Netherlands to meet the 23-year-old, in an attempt to progress the deal for their 'top target' even further.
However, in a report from Dutch football news outlet Voetbal International late on Monday evening, they claim that Wrexham are also showing an interest in the versatile Netherlands youth international.
Hansen has recently hinted that he's ready to take the next step in his career, having joined Nijmegen from Ajax in the summer of 2023, and has reportedly had clubs in England keeping tabs on him for quite some time.
Voetbal International claim that Middlesbrough's interest is indeed the most serious at this stage, but no formal offer has yet been tabled for the player.
Danish champions F.C. Copenhagen are also said to be admirers of Hansen, who had previously seen a move to French Ligue 1 side Lens collapse in the previous winter window, with Nijmegen rejecting their approach for their talented young forward.
Hansen doesn't appear to be short of Championship options this summer.
Indeed, it isn't only Middlesbrough and Wrexham who have shown interest in bringing the Dutchman to the second tier of English football.
Sky Sports News journalist Anthony Joseph revealed in early June that Birmingham City have expressed an interest in signing the Eredivisie winger this summer.
Sheffield United were also reported to have made an approach for Hansen in January, although that was swiftly downplayed by The Star. However, they may well be ones to watch given this new swirl of Championship interest for his services.
Burnley were also understood to have had a loan move with the obligation to purchase the forward for £3.5m rebuffed in January too, and so that could give a strong indication of what his price tag may be.
So, there appears to be a host of Championship clubs vying for his signature once again this summer, but with two years remaining on his contract with Nijmegen, he looks set to command a significant fee.
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