Wrexham transfer blow confirmed as EFL rivals capitalise on Deadline Day fiasco
Newly-minted Carlisle United have agreed a deal to sign Harrogate Town striker Luke Armstrong, who was just minutes away from joining Wrexham little over three months ago.
Armstrong, 27, had been due to sign for the Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney co-owned club on Transfer Deadline Day for a record fee reported to be in the region of £500,000. Despite League Two rivals Harrogate announcing the player's departure, the deal fell through after the relevant paperwork wasn't completed in time for the 11pm deadline on September 1.
Wrexham had considered lodging an appeal to the EFL but the Welsh outfit ultimately decided not to and apologised to the ex-Middlesbrough striker. Reynolds and McElhenney then splashed the cash on former Scotland international Steven Fletcher to help fill the void left by then-injured striker Paul Mullin, who suffered a punctured lung during a pre-season friendly with Manchester United.
Although it's unclear whether or not Hollywood-owned Wrexham would've gone in for Armstrong again, he now won't be linking up with Phil Parkinson's squad at the Racecourse Ground after Carlisle and Harrogate announced on Monday that a deal for the 27-year-old had been agreed. Mirror Football understands that Armstrong completed his medical in Cumbria on Friday, making him the first marquee signing under the club's new American ownership.
The Piatak family of Jacksonville, Florida took over the struggling League One side in November through their newly-founded company, Castle Sports Group, and have promised to give boss Paul Simpson an increased transfer budget to help the Cumbrians stave off relegation. Armstrong, who hasn't featured for Harrogate since October after Sulphurites manager Simon Weaver acknowledged that his January exit was inevitable, is a player who Carlisle were interested in over the summer but couldn't afford.
Ryan Reynolds mispronounces name of new Wrexham signing in hilarious video
Soon, though, he'll be a Blue. "Harrogate Town, Carlisle United and Luke Armstrong can each confirm they have all reached and completed an agreement for a permanent transfer on 1 January 2024," a joint statement from the two clubs read.
"Having already successfully completed his medical at Brunton Park, Luke will now leave Town with immediate effect to begin training with United, pending the opening of the transfer window and transfer of his registration."
Luke Armstrong has agreed to sign for Carlisle United when the window opens on January 1 (Ivan Yoranov/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Get involved! Who should Wrexham sign in January? Join the debate in the comments section.
Carlisle sit 21st in the League One table, three points from safety after 21 games. Boss Simpson guided the Brunton Park outfit to promotion via the play-offs in his first full season back at the club last term, having already masterminded two promotions in his previous tenure, and is desperate for investment.
Former Manchester City winger Simpson admitted last month: "I think it's blatantly obvious to everybody that this group needs strengthening. Absolutely blatantly obvious. We were fishing in a pond of a certain financial bracket in the summer, and we hope that we'll be fishing in a different pond, because this has to improve."
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