‘Don’t even joke’ – Wrexham star James McClean sends transfer warning to Ryan Barnett amid Rangers rumours

Barnett, who joined the Red Dragons from Solihull Moors in February 2023, has been catching the eye in League One this season. He has one goal and five assists to his name, while his work off the ball has also contributed to Phil Parkinson’s side occupying a lofty standing in the third-tier table.

Admiring glances from afar were always going to arrive at some stage, with the first round of gossip suggesting that Barnett was registering on the recruitment radars of Championship sides Stoke and Preston. He is now seeing a switch to Scottish Premiership giants Rangers speculated on.

Wrexham are reluctant to part with any prized assets, and club captain McClean is eager to see Barnett stay put. The boyhood Celtic fan has shared an image of him interacting with Barnett at training alongside the message: “Don’t even joke about such a thing!”

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That would appear to be a nod towards the rumours emanating out of Ibrox, with McClean disgusted by the thought of seeing Barnett end up on the blue half of a fierce Old Firm divide. There is no indication that a deal is in the pipeline, with no transfer window open, but rumour mills in Glasgow and North Wales appear set to rumble on towards the new year.