Blackburn Rovers & Wrexham make moves for 81-cap international after Everton exit | OneFootball

Blackburn Rovers and Wrexham have reportedly made an approach to sign former Everton defender Seamus Coleman.

As the EFL season approaches with around a month to until the 2026-27 campaign, the summer transfer window is hotting up after what has been a largely slow start.

It is expected that August, already a hectic month for transfer business, will be even busier than normal due to this summer’s FIFA World Cup delaying clubs and their plans.

That could certainly be what has been the case for the slow starts to incoming business at both Blackburn Rovers and Wrexham, who have done very little thus far.

Blackburn made Mousa Baradji a permanent addition after he spent the second half of last season on loan at Ewood Park from Yverdon Sport in Switzerland – but that is it so far, with the likes of Leo Duru, Sondre Tronstad, Nathan Redmond and Ryan Hedges departing at the end of their contracts.

As for Wrexham, Mo Faal has been loaned out to Port Vale with experienced players such as Tom O’Connor, Andy Cannon, Jay Rodriguez and Paul Mullin departing the club but no players have yet been signed by Phil Parkinson’s side.

The two teams may have differing expectations next season, with Blackburn likely to be looking over their shoulder and aiming to avoid relegation once again and Wrexham aiming to make it into the top eight and the expanded play-off spots in the Championship.

Despite those differing expectations, both Blackburn and Wrexham are said to be sharing a target to reinforce their defence.

Blackburn and Wrexham have made approaches for Seamus Coleman

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According to The Irish Sun, Blackburn Rovers and Wrexham are said to be interested in signing former Everton captain Seamus Coleman this summer.

It is said that both clubs have made approaches to the 37-year-old right-back, alongside both Sheffield United and Hull City, the latter of which were promoted to the Premier League via the play-offs last season.

The report goes on to suggest that Coleman is keen on game time to ensure he is a part of the Republic of Ireland’s plans ahead of their co-hosting duties for UEFA EURO 2028.

Coleman was offered a coaching role at Everton but turned that down to continue with his playing career somewhere else.

Coleman joined The Toffees from Sligo Rovers back in 2009. He spent 17 years at Goodison Park, with a brief spell out on loan at Blackpool in 2010.

The 81-cap Ireland international made over 400 appearances for the club and was even their first-team interim manager for a game alongside Leighton Baines in January 2025 after the sacking of Sean Dyche.

Seamus Coleman would bring experience to Blackburn and Wrexham

Blackburn have gone back to former boss Tony Mowbray over the summer after Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill opted to once again focus his full attention on his role as a national team boss.

The Lancastrians stayed up with a late rally of form under the management of O’Neill last season but there is an expectation that may indeed once again struggle this season, meaning that the experience that Coleman possesses could be invaluable.

Phil Parkinson is a manager known for wanting experience to work with and that has been a theme at each level that Wrexham have risen from in the last few years.

They missed out on the play-off places on the final day of last season but a second season in the second-tier, and the expansion of the top six to a top eight, means they will once again be promotion contenders.

Wrexham will be a little concerned that they were burnt by the lure of pedigree and experience with Conor Coady last season, who joined from Leicester City as something of a marquee name but made just five appearances in the Championship before being loaned out to Charlton Athletic for the second half of the campaign.