Wrexham director Humphrey Ker has dismissed reports that the club made a £19 million bid for Angers striker Sidiki Cherif, calling the speculation 'exciting' but inaccurate. The claims, which surfaced on Thursday, suggested the Championship side had tabled a club-record offer for the 19-year-old, who has scored four goals in 18 Ligue 1 appearances this season.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Ker acknowledged the buzz around the potential signing but poured cold water on the reported fee. 'To the best of my knowledge, it's a lot of exciting speculation,' he said. 'To say that we've launched a £19 million bid, I'm not sure that's a hundred per cent correct.' The transfer would have surpassed Wrexham's existing record of £10m for Nathan Broadhead and the Championship's highest outlay of £17.3m.
Ker, who sits on the club's transfer committee, suggested that Wrexham's high profile sometimes leads to agents using them to drive up player valuations. 'We get used at times as a stalking horse for other contract negotiations,' he explained. 'People say Wrexham are in for them, they're going to pay silly money, and teams react differently.'
Cherif, also linked with Premier League side Crystal Palace, has impressed in France's top flight. Wrexham, currently ninth in the Championship and two points off the play-offs, are actively seeking reinforcements. Ker noted the challenge of competing in the second tier, saying, 'We're no longer the big fish in a smaller pond. It's been challenging, but we're getting on a more level playing field.'
