Wrexham AFC should launch move for rarely-seen West Brom player | OneFootball

Devante Cole would be a great signing for Wrexham and can help ease the pressure on the likes of Paul Mullin.

Wrexham AFC's start to their first season back in League One has been impressive, with the Red Dragons currently sitting in third place, just four points behind league leaders Wycombe Wanderers.

Their defence has been superb, conceding just ten goals in 15 games, and wing-backs James McClean and Ryan Barnett have been terrorising defences.

However, there are growing concerns around their strike force and whether they have the attacking firepower needed to secure promotion to the Championship.

In recent seasons, scoring goals has been a hallmark of Phil Parkinson's side, with the Red Dragons netting a remarkable 296 goals over the past three campaigns. Central to this has been Paul Mullin, who has contributed nearly a third of those goals.

Yet, this season, there are signs that their once-reliable attack might be losing its edge. With Jack Marriott out injured and the other three strikers only contributing four goals between them, it could be time to look elsewhere, and a short-term fix could be available to them at West Bromwich Albion.

Devante Cole could ease pressure on Wrexham strikeforce

While it's difficult to be overly critical of Wrexham given their strong position in the league table, a reliable goalscorer at this level could be the key to securing an automatic promotion spot.

Many thought that Mullin would be exactly that, but his record at League One level currently reads 32 games and four goals scored. That isn't good enough, and with Ollie Palmer playing the role of a 'second striker', he needs more support from whoever plays alongside him.

The player to provide that support could be West Brom's Devante Cole. The 29-year-old has endured a difficult time at the Baggies since making the move from Barnsley in the summer on a free transfer.

Making just four appearances so far, the attacker has racked up a meagre 44 minutes of Championship football. Unfortunately, for the 29-year-old, it doesn't seem that this will increase anytime soon either, with Josh Maja's nine goals in 15 games keeping him out of the side.

Therefore, he may be searching for a move away from The Hawthorns, and this is the sort of player Wrexham will be looking to attract.

While it may take some time for him to reach match fitness, it seems a risk-free deal given that they could likely get him on a six-month loan.

If that is possible, Wrexham should pursue it with urgency, as Cole could be the missing piece to propel them to League One promotion.

In stark contrast to those presently at Wrexham, Cole's League One statistics read incredibly well, especially in recent seasons where he has been a real menace for the Tykes.

In 2022/23, he managed 15 goals and last season he improved his tally, netting 18 in 46 games.

His underlying statistics indicate he's a clinical finisher; his expected goals over the past two seasons was 29.7, yet he exceeded expectations by scoring 33 goals, outperforming his xG by 3.3.

To those interested, that would be a strong reading, especially given Mullin has underperformed his by 1.88 already this term.

While faith won't yet be lost in Mullin and co, should they not find the net often enough between now and January, Cole is certainly an option.