DEAN SAUNDERS believes he is making progress in the bid to land his number one transfer window target and is hopeful of securing the striker’s signature.
After having seen a first bid for the un-named striker rejected by his club, Saunders also had a second offer, which included add-on clauses, turned down.
Saunders then decided to make a third bid and is in negotiations with the club, and the Wrexham boss is hoping he can finally land his man.
“We have made an improved third bid and I am hopeful,” said Saunders.
“I will keep trying until it is dead. We seem to be making some headway so hopefully we can come to an agreement.
“Things are not agreed at the moment but there is a bit of dialogue going on now which is a bit more sensible.
“We are negotiating so hopefully we can come to an agreement.”
Saunders is desperate to bolster his attack to help address Wrexham’s poor scoring record of just 21 goals in 22 Blue Square Premier games this season.
A number of strikers have been linked with the Reds, including Forest Green Rovers frontman Andrew Mangan, who has completed a five month ban imposed by the Football Association in July for breaching betting rules.
While he is hoping to secure the services of his first choice target, Saunders stressed he won’t hang around too long if the latest bid is unsuccessful for fear of missing out on other potential signings.
“I have other irons in the fire but those players are obviously waiting on me. And I am waiting for an answer on, my number one target,” said Saunders.
“How long can these other lads wait until they are snapped up by other clubs?
“So, without putting ultimatums to people, we have to try and get the thing resolved quickly.”
Saunders has admitted he might have lose some of his current players to allow him to bring in more fresh faces.
And while a striker remains a priority, he is hoping to make more new additions: “The team has to keep improving,”he said. “I have to keep strengthening because I want the club to be successful so we have to try and get players in that are going to lift us.
“This is one of these players that will – definitely. We also have a few other things going on and I am hoping we can bring in more than one player.”
As well as trying to strengthen his squad, Saunders has begun the process of offering some players new contracts.
The majority of the Wrexham squad are out of contract at the end of the season and four players – goalkeeper Chris Maxwell, left-back Neil Taylor, centre-back Frank Sinclair and midfielder Andy Fleming – have been offered new deals so far.
And while more offers will follow, Saunders said the players have to earn the right to be part of his plans for the future.
“The four have had the offers and as we are going along, a few of the others have got to stand up and say, ‘offer me one’,” said Saunders. “No-one else has yet been offered a new deal but I can’t do them all at once.
“As we go along, if players – in my opinion – do well for me, I will look after them. If they don’t, then there is nothing for them.”
Wrexham’s last five matches have been called-off because of the big freeze, meaning they have not played a competitive match since the FA Trophy defeat at Altrincham on December 15.
The spate of postponements means Wrexham – 17th in the table and 16 points adrift of the play-offs – have up to five games in hand on all the other teams in the division.
And although the Reds are just six points above the relegation zone, Saunders is adamant that the only way is up and that a play-off berth is not beyond his team.
“We need a bit of a lift,” he added. “And there is still no reason why we can’t get into the play-off spots.
“We will be there or thereabouts. We have got to be in with a shout of getting into those play-off spots with ten games to go and that means we have to start putting back to back wins together.”
Wrexham have a free weekend with their next scheduled outing is at Gateshead on Tuesday.
However, that game will be called off and re-arranged for a second time if Gateshead’s FA Trophy tie with Chippenham Town tomorrow is another victim of the cold snap.
A pitch inspection is planned for this morning and if the surface is deemed unplayable, the second round tie will instead take take place on Tuesday – weather permitting.