Wrexham have continued their ambitious approach to the transfer market as they prepare for their League One campaign, but they have suffered a blow in their pursuit of a target. 
The Welsh side most recently attempted to poach Joe Morrell from Portsmouth, although a long-term injury has sent rumours silenced.
How did Morrell fare last season?
27-year-old Joe Morrell could provide Wrexham with League One promotion experience this summer after the Welshman helped Pompey secure a return to the Championship after 13 years away from it.
Morrell featured 31 times in all competitions for Pompey last season.
Portsmouth has become the midfielder’s true permanent home after he struggled whilst on the books at Bristol City, being expelled to various sides on loan.
The Pompey midfielder would be classified as a serious coup for the Red Dragons with Portsmouth now in the Championship, where Morrell has experience playing, with both Luton Town and Bristol City.
Why were Wrexham chasing Morrell?
Much like Portsmouth, Wrexham are attempting to improve their squad in order to compete with the level to which they have been newly promoted, in Wrexham’s case, League One.
Phil Parkinson’s side were in the race to sign free agent, Conor Hourihane, and even offered the Irishman a lucrative deal to join them.
However, the former Barnsley player returned to The Tykes with the offer of a player-coach role too good to turn down for the 33-year-old.
A failed pursuit of Hourihane led Wrexham to take their interest to Portsmouth’s Joe Morrell who is a free agent following Pompey’s decision to not trigger the midfielder’s extension in his current deal, although the club have stated they would like to keep Morrell and are attempting to renegotiate a new deal for the Welshman.
Wrexham are long-term admirers of the midfielder who has been capped 34 times for Wales and were believed to be keen on completing an ambitious move for the player.
What is the setback?
Despite his deal at Portsmouth running out and Morrell’s future being unknown, manager, John Mousinho, has continued to have the 27-year-old as part of the squad in order to help Morrell return to fitness after failing to return from a knee injury sustained against Oxford United back in January.
Morrell has been dealt a heavy blow to his hopes of securing a move soon with Mousinho admitting…
“Joe is still rehabbing and still injured. He’ll probably be back October, which is unfortunate for Joe, a real blow.
“We would love to get him back as soon as possible for his own career, helping him out as much as possible, but that, ultimately, was a factor in the contract decision as well because that’s a large chunk of the season”.
Rumours of a move to Wrexham have since gone quiet after the update, with the Welsh side still admirers of the midfielder, but yet to make an offer, with a lengthy injury likely slicing the chances of a move anytime soon.
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