Carlton Palmer believes Wrexham are the favourites to sign Joe Morrell from Portsmouth this summer amid competition from Birmingham City and QPR.
According to Phil Cadden, the Red Dragons are competing for the signature of the 27-year-old.
However, they face a battle from Birmingham and QPR for the Welshman, who is set to be out of contract at the end of the month.
Portsmouth have decided not to trigger an option to extend Morrell’s contract by a further year, opening the door for his Fratton Park exit.
Morrell played 27 times in League One last season, as Pompey gained promotion to the Championship by clinching the title.
Carlton Palmer predicts Morrell to Wrexham move
Palmer believes that Morrell would be a good addition for QPR or Birmingham if he agreed to move to either side.
However, he expects the player to receive greater playing time with Wrexham, which could give them the edge in the race for his signature.
“QPR, Birmingham and Wrexham are said to be interested in Portsmouth’s Joe Morrell,” Palmer told Football League World.
“It is reported that Joe is out of contract at the end of the season, so on 30 June, Portsmouth have decided not to take up the option to extend the Welshman’s contract, as they prepare for life back in the Championship after winning the League One title.
“The 27-year-old has made 105 appearances for Portsmouth, and has 37 caps for his country.
“QPR, who are looking to push on after staying in the Championship last season, could see Morrell as a shrewd addition to Cifuentes’ side going into the 2024/25 campaign, who need another midfield option after Isaac Hayden’s loan deal from Newcastle came to an end.
“Morrell will be available on a free transfer to leave Fratton Park, so it will be no surprise to see interest from QPR and several other clubs.
“Joe just wants to play football, so it will be interesting to see.
“For me, I think a move to a club like Wrexham would see him play regular first team football, as they’ve just got promotion.
“The likes of QPR and Birmingham, I think it would be a good addition to those squads, but he’d be more of a squad player than a regular, so Wrexham would be a great move for him, and I think it would see him get more chances at first team football.”
Joe Morrell’s importance to Portsmouth
| Joe Morrell – Portsmouth league goals and appearances (per Fbref.com) | ||||
| Season | Appearances (Starts) | Goals (Assists) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 36 (29) | 0 (2) | ||
| 2022-23 | 29 (23) | 1 (5) | ||
| 2023-24 | 27 (26) | 0 (1) | ||
Morrell has been with Portsmouth since the summer of 2021, having joined from Luton Town on a three-year deal.
In those three years, he has made 92 appearances in the third division of English football, helping Pompey finish 10th, eighth and first in the table.
The midfielder has been a regular presence in the side, but will not be going with John Mousinho’s side to the Championship unless a contract renewal is agreed soon.
However, he could still compete in the second tier if a move to Loftus Road materialises.
Joe Morrell would be a great addition for Wrexham
Wrexham have shown a lot of ambition in the last couple of years, earning back-to-back promotions to get to League One under Phil Parkinson.
Adding experience to their squad with the addition of Morrell as a free agent would be a great bit of business.
Being able to compete with Birmingham and QPR for signings is also a sign of their rapid progress in such a short space of time.
The team needs some improvement to maintain its competitiveness, and this would be a sign of their intent to compete at a high level in League One straight away.