In order to keep their Premier League aspirations alive, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s Wrexham are reportedly targeting a UEFA Champions League winner for next season.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have transformed Wrexham from a non-league side into a Championship club, and the next step in their remarkable journey could involve a major signing. According to reports, Wrexham are eyeing a UEFA Champions League winner to strengthen their squad for the 2024–25 season.
Following their promotion to the EFL Championship as runners-up in League One, Wrexham now face a new level of competition—featuring seasoned Premier League veterans and clubs with significantly higher budgets. Looking to stay competitive, the Red Dragons are reportedly exploring bold moves in the transfer market.
According to The Sun, Manchester United’s Jonny Evans is among the Wrexham’s top targets. The veteran center-back, who won the Champions League with United in the 2007–08 season, is expected to become a free agent this summer—making him an attractive option for the Welsh side.
Evans’ contract runs until June 2025, but after dealing with a series of muscular injuries and falling out of favor under new manager Ruben Amorim, he’s set be on the move. For Wrexham, adding a player with his experience would align with the club’s strategy and bolster their defense ahead of a challenging campaign.
The step up to the Championship marks one of the toughest tests yet for Reynolds and McElhenney since purchasing the club in 2020. With rising expectations and global interest, the team’s ability to blend experienced signings with its core identity will be crucial to surviving—and thriving—at this level.
Evans’ name fits the mold of Wrexham’s recent recruitment strategy, which has focused on experienced internationals in their late 20s or early 30s. The club currently holds one of the highest average squad ages in the league (28 years old), and that veteran presence has helped guide them through back-to-back promotions.
Manager Phil Parkinson on Wrexham’s transfer strategy
When asked about the potential to sign big-name free agents like Jonny Evans, or even rumored names such as Jamie Vardy or Kevin De Bruyne, manager Phil Parkinson stressed the importance of balancing ambition with financial discipline.
“We haven’t really spoken about anything,” Parkinson said to reporters after securing promotion. “We’ve always got our eye on players who are free transfers and are going to be available and will continue to do that but I think in football, recruitment it is about getting a lot of tight decisions right and I felt we did that in January when we were under a little bit of pressure because we weren’t scoring enough goals.
“To hold our nerve and get the right players in made the difference. I’m very pleased with that. We need to evaluate in terms of the budget, the level of wages that players are going to demand and enhance that quality with the culture and what we have built here,” the coach stated.
Wrexham are expected to be active in the transfer market once again this summer, with the goal of establishing themselves in the Championship—and possibly laying the foundation for a Premier League push.
