WHILE all the talk has been of Manchester City’s big-money move for an English left-back, another has slipped quietly out of Eastlands to kick-start his career with Wrexham.

The world’s richest club began to flex their financial muscle when they paid £10m to lure Wayne Bridge from Chelsea on Saturday.

That came after City’s Ruabon-born boss Mark Hughes gave his blessing to Sam Williamson to turn his loan with the Dragons into a permanent 18-month deal.

The Macclesfield-born 21-year-old, having joined the Premier League giants as a nine-year-old, rose through their academy ranks and made his first-team debut last season.

But the flying left-back had no hesitation in ending his long association with City after getting a taste of Dean Saunders’ Racecourse revolution.

Williamson, who should in the squad for Saturday’s FA Trophy second- round clash at Basingstoke Town (3pm), said: “It wasn’t that big a wrench to leave as I’ve really enjoyed myself at Wrexham and it’s become home from home for me.

“I’ve come into a winning team, which has helped, it’s a really young team and we’ve all got the same aim of getting the club back into the Football League.”

Williamson, already a firm fans’ favourite, admits boss Saunders was a major pull, as was the club’s facilities and the offer of first-team football.

He said: “I like the people at the club and I really like Dean as a manager. The way he talks about the game and what he wants for the club really made me want to come here. The facilities are really impressive, too, so it doesn’t seem like a step down from Manchester City.

“I was only playing reserve team football there and, although the standard isn’t that different from the Blue Square Premier, it just didn’t have that competitiveness.”

Saunders has been handed a further boost after cultured midfielder Andy Fleming agreed a new 18-month contract.

Angelos Tsiaklis has returned to Manchester City after his loan spell ended but fellow midfielders Ryan Flynn, from Liverpool, and Jonathan Brown, from Cardiff City, have extended their loans by a further month.

The versatile Kyle Critchell has been sent on a month’s loan to York City while centre-back Nat Brown will stay at League Two’s Macclesfield Town until the end of the season.

Centre-back Darran Kempson and striker Simon Brown have returned from their loans at Forest Green Rovers and Rushden & Diamonds respectively.

Centre-back Gareth Evans has been released while midfielder Conall Murtagh has joined The New Saints.

Wales Under 19s goalkeeper Chris Maxwell is back from Gap Connah’s Quay to challenge Gavin Ward for the number one spot, but left-back Chris Marriott has extended his loan at NEWI Cefn Druids.