Wrexham beat Hamburg to secure deal for Gabon international

Wrexham are still waiting for their first win of the Championship season after a mixed opening to the campaign under Phil Parkinson.

The Red Dragons have collected two points from their first two league matches and were also knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Middlesbrough. Will Lankshear decided that contest at the Riverside Stadium, scoring the only goal of the game in the second half.

Wrexham then appeared to be heading towards an impressive opening-day victory against Cardiff City. Kieffer Moore gave the visitors an early advantage after just three minutes, and Parkinson’s side managed to hold onto their lead until the final moments.

However, Cardiff rescued a point in dramatic fashion when Rubin Colwill found the net with a superb free-kick in the eighth minute of stoppage time.

Wrexham were left frustrated by that late equaliser, but they responded with another draw against Watford, a side widely expected to challenge towards the top end of the Championship.

Luca Kjerrumgaard gave Watford the lead at the STōK Cae Ras, before summer signing Danny Imray quickly restored parity with his first goal for Wrexham.

The hosts dominated possession and created enough opportunities to claim all three points, enjoying 59 per cent of the ball and winning 10 corners. Despite recording 12 attempts and producing an expected-goals figure of 1.92, they were unable to find a second goal.

Although Wrexham remain unbeaten in the league, consecutive 1-1 draws have underlined areas that Parkinson may still want to strengthen before the transfer window closes.

The pressure to improve is understandable given that Wrexham finished just outside the play-off places last season. Expectations have increased considerably following their impressive rise through the divisions.

The club have already strengthened their squad this summer with the arrivals of players including Danny Imray, Ben Whiteman and goalkeeper Anthony Patterson. Another defensive addition now appears to be close.

Wrexham agree deal for Jacques Ekomié

According to Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna, Wrexham have reached an agreement with Angers to sign Jacques Ekomié.

The 23-year-old left-back is a full Gabon international with 21 caps and began his development at Bordeaux before moving to Angers in 2024.

Wrexham reportedly faced competition from Bundesliga side Hamburg, but the German club were unable to match the financial terms offered by the Welsh outfit.

L’Équipe has reported that the transfer fee is slightly above £7 million before potential bonuses. Ekomié is now travelling to Britain to undergo the final stages of the transfer.

If completed, the deal would rank among the most expensive transfers in Wrexham’s history and represent another significant investment from owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

The move would also help solve a clear problem within Parkinson’s squad.

James McClean departed for Derry City in January, while Liberato Cacace managed only 13 appearances last season after struggling with injuries.

Ekomié primarily operates at left-back but possesses the versatility to feature in Parkinson’s preferred three-at-the-back or wing-back systems.

The defender may not be known for producing outstanding attacking statistics, but his pace, relatively young age and experience in Ligue 1 could make him a valuable addition to Wrexham’s defensive structure.

After an opening to the season that has been solid without producing a victory, Ekomié’s expected arrival could give Parkinson another important option and provide fresh momentum as Wrexham look to challenge at the top end of the Championship.