Ryan Reynolds sent clear Wrexham transfer message as Prem dream hangs in balance
A former Premier League star has outlined where Wrexham should invest in the January transfer window
Wrexham have been left with crystal clear guidance on where they must improve their squad to fulfil their Premier League promotion ambitions. The Red Dragons, jointly owned by Hollywood A-listers Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, rose to 13th in the Championship standings on Boxing Day after their thrilling 5-3 victory against Sheffield United.
Phil Parkinson‘s men currently sit five points adrift of the play-off spots having finally ended a disappointing run of five matches without victory. Club bosses have confirmed the manager will receive transfer funds when the January transfer window opens.
Former Premier League striker Troy Deeney has now delivered his assessment of where the Welsh club should invest to turn their top-flight aspirations into reality, beginning with bolstering their midfield. The ex-Watford ace also reckons they need to shore up at the back, despite lauding their attacking prowess.
Speaking on CBS Sports Golazo, he said: “Kieffer Moore, [Nathan] Broadhead and [Josh] Windass – those three will get you enough goals to be up there. It’s whether they can be better defensively.
“You see the goals that they’re conceding and the chances they’re conceding. In the Championship, you’ll get punished for that. In League One, they got away with it and in League Two. I just think can they get some more energy in midfield?
READ MORE: Wrexham ace doesn’t hide how he feels after silencing former club in thrilling comebackREAD MORE: Ryan Reynolds’ Wrexham sale explained as real financial strategy finally comes to light
“Yes, you can have Matty James in there who’s really good technically on the ball, but if the game’s going to be so spread as it is at the moment, it’s going to kill that midfield. You need more energy if they’re to be where they want to be, which is in the play-offs.”
Wrexham struggled initially in their Championship campaign this season, suffering defeat in three of their opening five fixtures following their promotion from League One last term. They subsequently went on an impressive nine-match unbeaten run in the league, before that sequence was brought to an end by a 2-0 defeat at Hull on December 10.
Additional disappointment followed last week when a costly late error from goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo resulted in a 2-1 loss at Swansea. Whilst Wrexham responded impressively against the Blades, former West Ham midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker believes they must register wins more regularly to be regarded as genuine promotion candidates this season.
He said: “Consistency plays a part because they’ll go into a run of two or three good results and then they’ll have quite a few indifferent results. When it comes to the Championship, whether it’s making the play-offs or winning this league, consistency is key.
“You don’t always have to play great, but you’ve got to find a way to get that result and you can’t lose. Wrexham have got that ability to lose the games that you don’t expect them to.”
Wrexham splashed out on 13 new signings over the summer, with an estimated total spend of around £33million. However, the club’s chief executive, Michael Williamson, has indicated a shift in strategy for the winter transfer window.
He said: “January windows are always challenging, just because you don’t know what the market is going to be. You don’t know what other clubs are looking at where sometimes it has to do with loans as well.
“It’s more of an opportunistic market. You look at your areas within the squad that you could use some additional support, whether it’s because of injuries or if it’s because of depth and you realise you might want an added piece to the squad. Then it’s about whether or not that added piece is available or not.”
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
