Wrexham AFC a problem for Celtic and Rangers admits Jansen

Leader Live

5 hours ago

Phil Parkinson guided the Reds' to an historic third successive promotion last term and a place in the Championship for the first time in 43 years.
Next season, the Reds will come up against the likes of Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton, who they face at St Marys Stadium on the opening day on Saturday August 9.
Parkinson is looking to strengthen his squad for the step-up to the second tier and former Wrexham striker Jansen, who scored one goal in three appearances for the Reds in 2008-9 having made his name at Blackburn Rovers, believes the Racecourse outfit are an attractive proposition.
Speaking to Genting Casino, Jansen said: "I think there will be a host of teams that could attract the same players. Birmingham are spending a lot of money as well.
"I'd probably put Rangers and Celtic as attractive as a top half Championship side, I think, especially for English-based players but maybe not so for the Scottish-based players.
"I think Wrexham now are another team that can compete with Rangers Celtic certainly for the same types of players."
Ex-England international Ashley Young has been linked with a move to Wrexham following his release by Everton and Jansen feels the 39-year-old would choose the Reds over Celtic.
"Celtic are a massive team, they've got Champions League football," said Jansen. "He's been playing at Everton recently so Wrexham's just round the corner, so he'd probably choose Wrexham at 39-years-old.
"Or does he want another crack at Champions League football? It's a difficult one, but would he uproot and go all the way to Scotland when he's been based in Merseyside, based in and around the area and not far from Wrexham?
"So that might suit him better, but Celtic's a massive team with Champions League football, so who knows, it would definitely be a toss of the coin."
Jansen believes experienced frontman Jamie Vardy, a free agent after leaving Leicester, would be a good replacement for prolific striker Paul Mullin who has joined Wigan Athletic on a season-long loan.
"Vardy scored nine in the Premier League last season, 10 altogether and he's still relatively fit and sharp," he said.
"It's really tough, the Championship, game after game, so would he be used sparingly? I don't think Vardy would be. I'm sure he'd chip in with a lot of goals and good experience.
"I think it would be a good addition. It might cost a few quid, but it'd be a good addition.'
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Parkinson will have a bigger budget now that Wrexham, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, are one division below the Premier League and Jansen says the club could do with a wealthy benefactor.
"You probably need a Jeff Bezos or a Mark Zuckerberg to help with the finances because the finances of football have gone out of control," he added.
"The money to compete at the top level or for Wrexham to push into that next level would require stupid amounts of money.
"They're not short of a bob or two, but they might need to lean on somebody like that."