Phil Parkinson, Wrexham’s head coach, is in a quandary over the future of striker Sam Dalby.
The forward was loaned to Dundee United at the end of the summer transfer window after falling out of favor at Racecourse. The 25-year-old has been thriving in the Scottish Premiership, scoring ten goals and becoming the league’s top scorer.
Dalby’s latest goal secured a thrilling last-minute victory for United against their fierce rivals Dundee, propelling his loan club to third place in the standings. Now, Parkinson must decide whether to recall the striker during the January transfer window, as his contract is set to expire in the summer.
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After the game, Dalby confessed he didn’t know what his parent club planned but expressed his contentment at United. He told Sky Sports: “I’ve no idea what’s happening to be honest with you. Obviously I’m enjoying it here and it’s a great set of lads and a great set of fans.”
Meanwhile, manager Jim Goodwin expressed his desire to keep Dalby at Tannadice. However, he recognized that the player would have many suitors since he can now begin discussions with other clubs about a pre-contract agreement.
Goodwin said: “I knew when we took him that he would be successful here. My hope was that we’d be able to tie him down to a lengthy contract, but the more he keeps banging in these goals, the harder he’s going to make that task for me.”
“But I’m not concerned about that at the moment. I think as Dundee United supporters we should enjoy having him while he’s here. We’ll do everything we can to try and keep him, but I’m pretty sure the big fella will have a lot of options in the summer.”
Former Rangers forward Kris Boyd argues that United must pull out all the stops to retain their goal-scoring talent. He said: “If you’ve got someone scoring goals, you have to find a way to keep him. Dundee United are a big club and they’ll be able to find some money from somewhere to at least offer him something.”
Meanwhile, Chris Sutton, ex-Celtic star, casts doubt on Dalby’s intentions: “He didn’t want to commit in the interview, Sam Dalby, to that question, which suggests he may have had his head turned.” As Wrexham grapples with their underperforming forwards, the team’s manager is faced with a crucial decision regarding Sam Dalby.
Potentially recalling the hitman could bolster the squad or propel United to make a permanent move, thus handing Wrexham a tidy transfer windfall. On the other hand, sticking with the temporary arrangement might appease United for now but could ultimately result in a lost opportunity to determine Dalby’s career trajectory.
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