Sources: Wrexham race Derby County and Millwall to sign Mattie Pollock
Wrexham, Derby County and Millwall are in a three-club race to sign Watford star Mattie Pollock, sources have told Football Insider.
The Championship trio are all plotting moves to sign the 24-year-old before the transfer deadline on 1 September, with talks set to accelerate over his future at Watford.
The Hornets are extremely reluctant to lose their star centre-back at this stage of the transfer window, as it will be difficult to land a replacement before the deadline.
However, Wrexham, Derby and Millwall are all keen to test Watford's resolve and could formalise their interest with official offers in the coming days.
Pollock made 36 appearances for Watford last season and was named as the club's Player of the Season, and he remains a key part of Alessio Dionisi's side after a strong start this term.
He is still under contract at Vicarage Road until 2029, and has recently been named as Watford's club captain, with Watford in a strong position to dictate his future.
Could Mattie Pollock leave Watford this summer?
Pollock has established himself as a key part of Watford's side over the last two seasons, and the decision to appoint him as club captain serves as a show of faith in his role.
However, those performances have attracted interest from clubs higher up the Championship than Watford, despite their strong start to the new season.
All three of Wrexham, Millwall and Derby have ambitions of winning promotion to the Premier League this season, and believe Pollock could improve their chances.
His leadership and defensive qualities have placed him firmly on the radar of Watford's divisional rivals, while at 24 years old he remains a long-term option for the future.
Watford are extremely reluctant to lose their star man, but the trio of interested clubs could be poised to test their resolve before the window closes on 1 September.
Bids are now being lined up behind the scenes, and it may prove difficult for Watford to hand on to Pollock if he could be tempted by the approaches.
Why do Wrexham want to sign Pollock?
Wrexham are among the trio of Championship clubs who are interested in signing Pollock, and have been impressed by his performances over the last 12 months.
Phil Parkinson is aiming to bolster his squad in a number of key positions, while the centre-back impressed for Watford during their 1-1 draw at the Stok Cae Ras last weekend.
Meanwhile, Football Insider revealed on 21 August that Reading are interested in a move to sign Dan Scarr, which would leave Wrexham with little depth at centre-back.
The Royals are keen to strengthen their backline and have identified the 31-year-old as a clear target in the final stages of the summer transfer window.
While he is not a regular starter for Wrexham as things stand, his departure could clear space in the squad for a new arrival, with Pollock high on their list.