Wrexham lose out on transfer deal to League One rivals despite “big offer
Conor Hourihane turned down a move to Wales, in favour of joining his old club.
Barnsley have signed Conor Hourihane, with the midfielder becoming a player-coach.
Hourihane has expressed his delight at returning to Oakwell.
He turned down a “big offer” from Wrexham to return to his former club.
Promoted League One side Wrexham missed out on the signing of Conor Hourihane after he decided to sign for Barnsley, according to Leon Wobschall.
The Tykes will be glad to win this transfer race, as they look to secure a Championship return at the third time of asking.
Having reached the third-tier play-offs two seasons in a row, a top-two finish would be preferable for them as they look to avoid play-off heartbreak again.
Unfortunately for them, they missed out on re-appointing Michael Duff, who ended up making the move to fellow Yorkshire side Huddersfield Town in the end.
But they have managed to seal a reunion with Hourihane, who was a real asset during a two-year spell at his last club Derby County.
Even though this is a good signing, the Tykes will know better than anyone else that there is still plenty of work for them to do in the transfer market if they are to be competitive at the top end of the division next term.
Not only have their former loanees left, with John McAtee and Liam Roberts playing an important part for the South Yorkshire side last season, but they will also lose Nicky Cadden, Devante Cole, Herbie Kane and Jordan Williams when their contracts expire at the end of the month.
Hourihane’s arrival must mark the start of a busy summer transfer period at Oakwell.
Barnsley beat Wrexham to Conor Hourihane
It seems as though Darrell Clarke beat stiff competition to get this deal over the line, with journalist Wobschall revealing that Irishman Hourihane turned down a big offer from Wrexham to return to his former club.
He has signed a multi-year deal in a player-coach role, before making the full-time transition to coaching in two years.
