Wrexham need to make £8.5m statement of intent by dealing double transfer blow to Championship rivals

Wrexham will be confident they can spring a surprise or two next season.

Wrexham’s first Championship campaign in 43 years is one to excite the fans and Phil Parkinson will be assembling a squad raring to take on the challenge.

Fans are nervous about Wrexham’s fixtures but the chance of taking on the likes of Southampton and Leicester shows how far the club has come under the ownership of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

Wrexham’s owners vowed to be ‘aggressive’ in the transfer window and the duo now have the chance to really show the rest of the division that the Red Dragons mean business next season.

READ MORE: Three Wrexham academy stars who deserve minutes on pre-season tour in Australia, including documentary star

Wrexham should beat Hull to double signing of Lewis O’Brien and Louie Barry

Wrexham have made a bid for Lewis O’Brien, believed to be in the region of £5m. If successful, it would be a club record signing, overtaking Sam Smith’s deal from Reading in January.

Hull City are interested in O’Brien but Parkinson’s Championship newcomers can make a real statement of intent by beating an established second tier outfit in the race for the midfielder.

O’Brien has an excellent record in the division and would be perfect to slot into Parkinson’s midfield with his energy and technical ability.

Meanwhile, Hull are also chasing Aston Villa youngster Louie Barry but talks have stalled over a move for the forward.

Barry has haunted Wrexham in recent years and the club should now flex their muscles and pounce upon indecision surrounding his move to the Tigers.

A £3.5m fee is being touted for the 22-year-old but after having spent a loan period at Hull, Parkinson should test the waters over the striker making the move to the Racecourse Ground.

Louie Barry would be the perfect foil for Sam Smith and Ryan Hardie

Barry scored against Wrexham last season during a 1-0 defeat against Stockport County in League One and the young forward has impressed against the Red Dragons in every outing.

He struggled with a knee injury upon arriving at Hull last season and only made four appearances, however, if Wrexham could snatch him away they would have the ideal foil for Smith and new signing Ryan Hardie.

Barry is technically superb, his first touch and ability to evade challenges catches the eye straight away. The 22-year-old also knows where the goal is.

His versatility would also appeal to Parkinson with his ability to play as a second striker or just behind a front two. Barry could be the answer to Wrexham’s unsolved creative issues.

Five Wrexham players looking for strong pre-season campaigns, including one exciting 2024 signing

Wrexham head off to Australia to kick off pre-season next week, and a number of players are desperate to make an impact.

Wrexham’s Championship fixture list was released last week, and Phil Parkinson faces a tough challenge to kick off the campaign.

Southampton are Wrexham’s first opponents, with a difficult journey down to the South Coast now on the horizon.

Wrexham’s focus is on pre-season for now, though, and Parkinson will take his squad to Australia and New Zealand next week.

Games against Melbourne Victory, Sydney FC, and Wellington Phoenix will provide a great test for Wrexham ahead of the new season.

Everybody is looking to impress, but these five players will be looking to really shine in front of Parkinson as the new season – and the transfer deadline – loom large.

• READ MORE: Nottingham Forest expert shares clear Lewis O’Brien verdict as Wrexham chase club-record deal

Ryan Barnett

In the first half of last season, Ryan Barnett was Wrexham’s wing wizard.

Barnett was racking up the assists down Wrexham’s right flank and earned himself a new contract in the process.

Wrexham then signed Ryan Longman in January, and he took over from Barnett during the promotion run-in.

Barnett was in and out of the side towards the end of the season and will be keen to shine in pre-season in an attempt to reclaim his place.

Sebastian Revan

One of the shining lights of pre-season last year, left wing-back Sebastian Revan really caught the eye with his pace and trickery.

Revan sparked excitement among Wrexham fans, but he struggled to take those pre-season displays into the season.

The 21-year-old started just nine League One games and didn’t make a single appearance after Wrexham’s 2-0 defeat to Reading on March 11.

Wrexham now want Owen Beck, and Revan will hope to recapture the form of last year’s pre-season campaign to prove to Parkinson that another left wing-back signing is not needed.

George Evans

Wrexham have been linked with so many midfielders this summer, leaving George Evans to become something of a forgotten man.

Evans only started one League One game last season and was only able to muster 134 minutes of league action.

Injuries were a problem for Evans once again, after he only managed 21 starts in Wrexham’s League Two campaign.

Evans has plenty of Championship experience with Reading, Derby and Millwall, and needs to use pre-season to show that he can still be a force in Parkinson’s engine room.

Elliot Lee

One of Wrexham’s heroes in recent years, Elliot Lee’s 2025 never really got going.

Lee was involved in a road traffic accident in February, and he, understandably, struggled to find his best form.

Lee scored against Lincoln City on the final day of the season, though, and needs to take that moment into pre-season.

Paul Mullin’s exit shows that Parkinson will not allow sentiment to cloud his thinking, so Lee needs a strong pre-season to set him up well for Championship life.

We know the quality is there, and we would love to see Lee thriving in the second half of 2025 after a tricky first half.

Jay Rodriguez

Parkinson brought Jay Rodriguez to Wrexham in January, but the striker failed to convince many supporters.

The veteran forward scored just two goals in 17 League One games, and both were penalties; one scored, and one on the rebound.

Wrexham will be looking for more from Rodriguez in the Championship, and that starts with a strong pre-season.

Rodriguez has been there and done it in the Championship, but this summer offers him a chance to start proving his doubters wrong.