"Perhaps overly ambitious" - Wrexham AFC told to consider approaching QPR player if promoted | OneFootball

FLW's Wrexham fan pundit has identified R's defender Jimmy Dunne as being a potential free agent target for the Red Dragons in the summer.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Wrexham have been told to ready an audacious free agent swoop for out of contract QPR defender Jimmy Dunne if they are promoted to the Championship.

Phil Parkinson's Red Dragons side are battling to win automatic promotion to the Championship, which would see the club take yet another huge step in their remarkable rise up the football league in recent years.

Despite their Hollywood ownership and significant financial investment in the playing squad, they've still had to make sure money was being spent wisely when adding to the team, and that's something the club have been doing successfully.

However, should they win promotion to the second tier this season, then the importance of completing shrewd transfer business will only be made increasingly crucial, with the free agent market being ripe for bargains should they navigate it smartly.

Wrexham urged to sign QPR defender Jimmy Dunne if Championship promotion is achieved

Speaking with our Wrexham fan pundit, Liam Grice, we asked if there was one set-to-be out of contract Championship or League One player that the club should be eyeing up a summer move for, and his response was perhaps an unexpected one, given the interest that said player has just had in the January window.

"The out of contract signings all depends on whether we go up or not. But in terms of who we would probably be able to attract, if I'm being perhaps overly ambitious, one player I would definitely be looking at is Jimmy Dunne from QPR," Grice told FLW.

"The Irish centre-back has been a really solid Championship level defender for a while now, and he would immediately bring up the level of quality of our defence, that I would have no qualms with it being up to standard to have a go at surviving in the Championship."

Jimmy Dunne would provide superb value for Wrexham if they could land his signature

Having seen his QPR contract extended by a further 12 months at the start of the season, Dunne is now once again heading towards the free agent market this summer.

The 27-year-old signed from Burnley in the 2021 summer transfer window, and has established himself as a key member of the Hoops' squad ever since.

Dunne has transitioned more into a full-time right-back this season, having been a centre-back by trade throughout his career. But, the Irishman has still been deployed in that role multiple times so far this term, and in a back three that is deployed by Phil Parkinson, he would likely fit in as a right-sided defender.

As such, he would provide Wrexham with a versatile and quality defensive option, but given how impressive he's been for QPR this season, the Red Dragons surely only possess a realistic chance of securing his signature if they were to win promotion.

Dunne is an attack-minded defender, and so if Wrexham were to be plying their trade in the second tier next season, the former Republic of Ireland youth international could certainly help Parkinson's side when it comes to ensuring they're a strong enough attacking force to create and score goals in the Championship.

Given the fact that Premier League-chasing Sheffield United wanted him in January though, and QPR were prepared to sell for the right price if the Blades put in an acceptable offer, there is likely going to be plenty of keen clubs from the top end of the second tier if Dunne runs his deal down.

Wrexham however have the Hollywood angle to offer individuals though, and as the sponsorships and finances will go up a level as they are promoted, so will wages and the calibre of player they will need to push on further - Dunne would certainly be ambitious but perhaps not unattainable.