How Wrexham AFC must spend £25m transfer kitty – Rothwell should be first signing | OneFootball

Wrexham reportedly have a transfer kitty of £25 million so FLW has had a look at who they should look to bring in.

Having gained three successive automatic promotions to go from the National League to the Championship, Wrexham must now quickly construct a squad capable of not just remaining in the second-tier, but also proving that they can be competitive towards the top end of the table.

The Red Dragons won the National League as recently as 2023 and their ownership, led by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, have been able to invest well enough to create sides that have now propelled themselves to within just one promotion of the Premier League.

Former Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland boss Phil Parkinson has done an excellent job at the Racecourse Ground, but his next test is to do something he never has and that is to challenge for promotion in the Championship.

Wrexham have already been linked with moves for the likes of Jonny Evans and Tom Cairney, and with reports suggesting they have £25 million to spend, Football League World has looked at a few other players that should be targeted by the Welsh club.

Joe Rothwell

One man that has not yet been linked with a move to North Wales is that of Joe Rothwell, who spent the season on loan at Elland Road, as he helped Leeds United win the Championship title, making 36 appearances for the Whites.

The 30-year-old midfielder, who joined Premier League side AFC Bournemouth from Blackburn Rovers on a free transfer in 2022, has earned promotion from the Championship in each of the last two seasons, having gone up with Southampton via the play-offs in 2023/24.

The former England youth international would fall into a similar bracket to Matty James, bringing a higher level of technical class to Wrexham’s midfield, and also offering much-needed higher-level experience, plus some set-piece quality – he has a year left on his deal at Bournemouth.

Aaron Cresswell

A player that has indeed been linked with a move would be someone that may be seen as a typical Wrexham signing of recent seasons, and that would be Aaron Cresswell, who has been released by West Ham United this summer.

The former Ipswich Town left-back has moved into more of a left-sided defender in a back-three role for much of the last few seasons at the Hammers and that would be ideal for Parkinson’s system at a higher level.

Parkinson's sides - often reliant on set-pieces - would also be boosted by the delivery, both from dead balls and open play, of Cresswell.

Even at 35, the veteran defender would be a smart addition on a free transfer.

Will Lankshear

Phil Parkinson has discussed Wrexham’s desire to look at the loan market this summer, and one of the younger players from one of the so-called ‘big six’ that would suit his style of football would be Tottenham Hotspur’s Will Lankshear.

The 6'2" 20-year-old England youth international made his Spurs debut earlier this season and scored his first goal for the club against Galatasaray in the UEFA Europa League, in a game in which he was then sent off.

He joined West Bromwich Albion on loan during this past season's winter transfer window, but didn’t score in his 11 appearances for the Baggies.

Now there is a chance for someone else to take a punt.

However, that underwhelming spell at The Hawthorns may well work to Wrexham’s advantage, with Spurs now potentially more tempted to part ways on a permanent basis.

The physical striker would seem a smart investment for the long-term for Wrexham, as well as providing Parkinson with the profile of striker he would want for his side.

Josh Windass

Notching 13 goals in the Championship last season, Josh Windass, the son of Dean Windass, enjoyed his best ever Championship season, beating his previous best of nine goals in 41 appearances for the Owls in the 2020/21 campaign.

Windass was excellent for Wednesday last season and has probably just enjoyed his most consistent season last term, in terms of overall performance level, at the age of 31.

The former Rangers attacker has, though, already been linked with a move away to Carlos Corberan's Valencia this summer - so it could well be that he departs Hillsborough.

His style and profile would very much suit this Wrexham squad, competing for a spot in the number ten or as a second striker alongside Elliot Lee.

Joe Gelhardt

Another attacker that could be on Wrexham's wanted list, albeit of a different profile to the maverick 'ten' of Windass, or the more 'big man' stylings of Lankshear, would be Joe Gelhardt.

Gelhardt joined Leeds from Wigan Athletic in August 2020 and the 23-year-old remains highly-rated with a lot of potential, but perhaps has not yet realised it, following loan spells at Sunderland and Hull City.

Having still not yet worked out exactly what his best position is, Gelhardt has been able to show an impressive versatility to his game, having played out-wide, up-front or in the attacking midfield role.

Wrexham pouncing on his development, as he appears to be finding consistency at Championship level with five goals in 20 appearances for the Tigers at the back end of last season, could be very shrewd and very well-timed.

Conor Coady

Conor Coady joined Leicester in the summer of 2023, and was a part of the Foxes squad that eventually won the Championship title in the 2023/24 season, albeit the former England international wasn't necessarily a guaranteed starter at the King Power Stadium.

With Leicester trying to play a more deliberate style of football, it perhaps didn't suit Coady's best attributes, with those long, sweeping diagonal passes that he became renowned for at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

He is an experienced professional, though, and may well suit the style of Parkinson and Wrexham, who are likely to be more direct on the ball next season.

He could slot seamlessly into the middle of Parkinson's back three.