DEAN KEATES believes Theo Vassell will be a huge asset to Wrexham but the Reds’ boss is still looking to sign another centre-back.

Vassell, 23, who was with Macclesfield Town last season and has also played for Chester, Gateshead and Port Vale, has signed a one year deal at The Racecourse.

One of eight new signings, Vassell will compete with captain Shaun Pearson and first year pro Max Cleworth for a place in the heart of the Reds’ defence.

But Keates is targetting another centre-back to give him more options.

“There are a lot of players who can bounce between positions so we have got flexibility,” said Keates. "We are still light in that position.

“We have got young Max who is still only 18 and has got his whole career in front of him.

“I just feel we need to add another one in there just in case anything happens to Shaun and Theo.

“It will be hard to ask an 18-year-old to go in and play a consecutive amount of games, play men’s football and the demands of this level.”

Jamie Reckord, Elliot Durrell, Jordan Ponticelli, Reece Hall-Johnson, Jordan Davies, Adi Yussuf and Kwame Thomas have joined Vassell at The Racecourse.

Pearson, Luke Young, Jay Harris, Rob Lainton, Devonte Redmond and Dan Jarvis were already under contract for the upcoming National League campaign, while Mark Carrington, Paul Rutherford, Christian Dibble and Dawid Szczepaniak have signed new deals.

With Jake Bickerstaff and Cleworth also penning their first professional contracts, Keates has 20 players signed up for 2020-21 but he has not finished in the transfer market.

“I am still looking at a few places,” said Keates.

“We are still a little bit weak in one or two areas so we need additions, and hopefully one or two things will fall into place for us.”

Keates is happy with the squad that he is assembling and the new arrivals have already shown in pre-season why they were earmarked as transfer targets.

“We made the most of the five months we were shut down and slowly but surely, it is all coming together,” said Keates.

“I don’t want to look too far back and question players but it just needed a fresh impetus and a different direction for the club to go.

“We looked at a lot of things through the summer. Characters and the right personalities what we needed to add to the changing room.

“And since we have been back, the attitude has been first class and we are making gradual steps with the fitness side.

“I can’t fault the lads that are here, we just need a few more just to make sure we are ready for the beginning of the season.”