Wrexham are gearing up to play Championship football for the first time since 1982 – with significant amounts of money available to spend.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have promised a huge transfer budget this summer, after the Red Dragons earned three consecutive promotions from the Conference upwards.
Most clubs promoted from League One would normally look to consolidate during their first season in the second tier, given the step up in quality.
But the 2025/26 campaign will be slightly different in that regard, with Birmingham and Wrexham both able to spend freely.
Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson has successfully refreshed the squad for two seasons in a row now – having had to adhere to strict squad registration rules in League One last season.
Preparing for Championship football, though, will be a much tougher test, with relegated Premier League clubs Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton joining established second tier clubs such as Sheffield United, Middlesbrough, West Brom and more.
GiveMeSport claimed last week that Wrexham will have up to £25 million to spend to bring in fresh recruits – though you would expect a more realistic sum to be lower than that when wages and signing-on fees are taken into accountParkinson has already hinted that the Red Dragons will look to the Premier League market for signings, telling reporters that Wrexham have had to be patient with deals due to the seasons of certain clubs not yet being over.With all that in mind, we’ve put together a potential starting XI for Wrexham next season, with a mixture of top flight talent and star players from the lower divisions all included.
Wrexham 2025/26 starting XI predictions
In goal, Parkinson will likely keep faith with former Arsenal shot-stopper Arthur Okonkwo, who has kept 33 clean sheets in his two seasons as a Wrexham player.
Academy graduate Max Cleworth was an almost ever-present last season in central defence, and even contributed seven goals. At 22, he is only going to get better.
Midfielder Ollie Rathbone won the club’s Player of the Year award earlier this month and the 28-year-old has previous Championship experience with Rotherham.And Ryan Longman, who was signed from Hull in January, quickly made the right wing-back position his own and contributed four assists in 18 games.
But what about the new additions?
In defence, Wrexham have been linked with a move for Manchester United defender Jonny Evans, who will be a free agent next month. At 35, he would add vital experience to the top flight.
Another Premier League defender soon to be out of contract is Ben Davies, who has just won the Europa League with Tottenham.
A Wales international and now 32 years of age, Davies could help to shore up Wrexham’s defence further on a left of a back three, given he now no longer plays as a full-back. Wages would be the key concern, though.
At left wing-back, Charlton star Thierry Small has reportedly attracted interest from several Championship clubs after an excellent season at the Addicks.The 20-year-old is already set to play in the second tier with his newly-promoted side next season, but an offer from Wrexham could be too much to turn down for the ex-Southampton and Everton youth player.
Tom Cairney has been extensively linked with a move to the Racecourse Ground, with Wrexham reportedly prepared to pay him up to £50,000-a-week. Another soon-to-be free agent amid his Fulham contract expiring, the creative midfielder would be a star player in the second tier.
Former Manchester United midfielder Ethan Galbraith, meanwhile, has been one of the stars of League One with Leyton Orient this season, with manager Richie Wellens claiming that he could play in the Premier League.
Orient’s defeat in the play-off final could lead to a departure for the 24-year-old, who scored seven goals and provided eight assists in the league this season. Swansea reportedly had a £1 million bid rejected in January, but the asking price will now surely be higher for the Northern Ireland international.
In the forward areas, one highly talked-about Premier League prospect is Louie Barry, who smashed in 15 goals in 20 League One appearances for Stockport last season.He was recalled in January and sent out on loan to Hull, but a serious knee injury suffered after four games curtailed that spell. Another Championship loan spell might be the best course of action for both Barry and parent club Aston Villa.
Alongside him, we’ve gone for 32-year-old Wales international Kieffer Moore, who has extensive goal-scoring experience in the Championship.
The Sheffield United striker was on the losing side in the play-off final at Wembley last weekend, and although he was a regular starter during the first half of the campaign, only started five of the last 18 matches, scoring six goals in total.
