Humphrey Ker. Credit: Wrexham AFC
Wrexham director Humphrey Ker has dismissed claims the club are preparing a £19 million transfer swoop for French striker Sidiki Cherif, insisting the story is “exciting speculation” rather than reality. The Red Dragons have been linked with a record-breaking move for the Angers forward, but Ker says the reports have been blown out of proportion.
Speculation around the potential deal emerged earlier this week, suggesting Wrexham could smash the Championship transfer record with an audacious bid for the 19-year-old Ligue 1 talent. The rumour quickly gained traction across social media and tabloid outlets, but the club’s community director moved swiftly to clarify the situation.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Ker emphasised that the club had not made any official approach for the forward. He said the story had caught him by surprise just as much as the supporters.
“We were all as excited as everybody else to read about it on the internet. To the best of my knowledge, it’s a lot of exciting speculation,” Ker said.
Ker plays down talk of record bid
Ker added that while Wrexham are active in the January market, claims of a £19 million offer were wide of the mark. He said the club are keeping their options open but described the headline figure as unrealistic.
“We’re looking at lots of different players at the moment, but to say that we’ve launched a £19 million bid, I’m not sure that’s a hundred per cent correct,” he said.
Reports in France linked Cherif with both Wrexham and Premier League side Crystal Palace, noting that the teenager has scored four goals in 18 Ligue 1 appearances this season. If completed, such a move would have eclipsed the Championship’s previous record transfer fee of £17.3 million, set by Ipswich Town last summer. Wrexham’s own record stands at around £10 million following the signing of Wales international Nathan Broadhead in 2025.
Ker went on to explain that Wrexham’s growing reputation has made the club a useful name for agents to leverage during player negotiations. He suggested some of the speculation around the transfer may have been driven by outside interests rather than genuine talks.
“One thing we’ve definitely noticed is that we get used at times as a sort of stalking horse for other contract negotiations and for transfers,” he said. “I’m not saying that’s what’s happening in this situation, but it has happened in the past.”
Wrexham continue transfer push
The Red Dragons remain in the hunt for reinforcements before the transfer window closes on 2 February. Manager Phil Parkinson has confirmed that funds are available to strengthen the squad as Wrexham push for a Championship play-off place. The club currently sit ninth, just two points off the top six, as they look to continue their extraordinary rise under owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
Despite the noise around the supposed bid, Ker’s comments suggest that a deal for Cherif is unlikely to materialise at the price being reported. However, the director’s tone indicates that Wrexham will not shy away from ambitious moves as they continue to establish themselves among the Championship’s elite.
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