PLAYER-MANAGER Andy Morrell is hoping to convince striker Mathias Pogba to resign for Wrexham.
Pogba, named Young Player of the Year last season after contributing 12 goals as Wrexham reached the play-off semi-finals for a second successive year, is out of contract but has been offered a new two year deal.
And although he faces competition from other clubs for Pogba’s signature, Morrell is desperate to keep the Frenchman at The Racecourse.
“I am just trying to sort Mathias out,” said Morrell. “We are speaking and negotiating with him, we have offered him a good contract and he is mulling it over.
“There has been interest from other teams but we want him to stay, that’s why we have offered him a good two-year deal; we think he has got a bright future in the game and that has been suggested by the teams sniffing around him.
“I don’t know what he is thinking but now I am back from holiday we can sit down and have a good chat.”
Morrell is hoping Pogba makes a speedy decision about his future so he can look for a replacement striker should he move on.
“We just need to get it sorted,” said Morrell. “If Mathias wants to leave and try it at a higher level or abroad, we will need to bring someone in to replace him.
“But strong, six foot strikers are not easy to come by.”
The majority of players have accepted new deals, including skipper Dean Keates and winger Glen Little, and Morrell hopes defender Stephen Wright will also put pen to paper.
“Stephen has moved house and been on holiday, he is not in a rush to get something sorted,” said Morrell. “He is experienced and at that stage of your career, he needs to get his next move right.
“He can look about but I will speak to him, see what his thoughts are and try to get that nailed down too.”
Phil Jevons will not be a possible replacement if Pogba leaves as the experienced frontman, who trained with Wrexham in April after leaving Morecambe, has signed for Conference newcomers Hyde, although Morrell has no regrets.
“It’s difficult, do you wait to see what is out there or do you make an offer,” said Morrell. “Phil did well in training but we are fairly well off on that front with six strikers at the moment.
“That might change if Mathias leaves but I was not in a position to offer Phil anything; I want Mathias to stay and a lot depends on what he will do.”
Morrell is eager to strengthen his squad and replace the likes of Chris Maxwell, Nat Knight-Percival and Jamie Tolley, who have all left the club.
Although yet to make any new additions this summer, Morrell has been in contact with potential targets but is happy to bide his time.
“We have managed to keep 80 per cent of the squad,” added Morrell. “We have got fairly good numbers at the moment, it is just a matter of tinkering.
“We are not in a rush and we have got to get it right.
“It is not going to be six or seven players we bring in, probably about two or three, and they have to be better than what we have got and help us to get five or six points more than last season to win the league.
“I am talking to a few players and have put the feelers out, seeing what players’ thoughts are.
“Some are not in a rush to get sorted while some players’ contracts run until the end of June and are quite happy to wait and see, they are not in a rush.”