Executive director confirms Wrexham are desperate to sign Arsenal GK Okonkwo on permanent deal 

Newly-promoted English League One side Wrexham are desperate to sign Anglo-Nigerian goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo on a permanent deal this summer, the club's executive director Humphrey Ker has confirmed.

The 22-year-old has spent this season on loan at Wrexham from Arsenal and has impressed under manager Phil Parkinson.

He is out of contract with Arsenal at the end of the season and is expected to attract interest from a number of clubs.

Humphrey Ker told Men in Blazers, via The Wrexham Insider that Wrexham would like Okonkwo to stay permanently and joked that he was man-marking the goalkeeper at the EFL awards to stop other clubs from speaking to him.

"We had two players nominated in the EFL League Two Team of the Season in Arthur Okonkwo and Elliot Lee," said Ker.
"I had to go and man-mark Arthur because we knew there would be lots of people from other football clubs there and as we're desperate to retain him this summer, we've got to make sure he doesn't have too much polite chit-chat with people, without me appearing over his shoulder like 'what are you guys talking about? I'm here too!

"Playing regular first-team action should be the priority for Okonkwo at this stage in his development and Wrexham have shown that he can play regularly under Parkinson."

Wrexham are likely to face competition from other clubs to sign Okonkwo, but Ker believes that the Red Dragons' rapid rise in recent seasons makes them an attractive proposition.

Reports suggest that Premier League and Championship clubs are keen on Okonkwo, as are clubs around Europe.

Okonkwo has been on the books of Arsenal since U9 level and has received ten calls up to the first team without making his debut for the London club.

Ejim Kaycee

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