"One of the poorest" - Wrexham AFC summer transfer wish revealed on one condition | OneFootball

The Red Dragons are battling for promotion, but big changes are said to be needed if they do go up to the Championship

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

The League One promotion race is likely going to go down to the wire, with Wrexham one of the favourites to join Birmingham City in the second tier of the English footballing pyramid next season.

With many already claiming Blues have their spot in the Championship wrapped up already, focus will shift to who will grab second position, which is one that Wycombe currently occupy.

A 3-2 win on Tuesday evening against Rotherham United saw the Chairboys leapfrog Wrexham back into the automatic promotion places, and that came just three days after the North Wales outfit went to Adams Park and defeated Mike Dodds' men 1-0.

There are other contenders such as Charlton Athletic and Stockport County waiting to pounce if both clubs slip up, but as of now, Wrexham are one of two who are in pole position for second, with Phil Parkinson looking for three promotions in as many seasons.

Wrexham AFC transfer wish outlined with Championship promotion a crucial factor

Wrexham did not undergo a massive overhaul upon their promotion to League One, with the likes of Dan Scarr, Mo Faal, Ollie Rathbone, George Dobson and Seb Revan brought in, as well as the permanent return of Arthur Okonkwo.

Some of those deals have worked better than others, but it was clear that Parkinson wanted some more fire-power in the January window, with Wrexham going out to bring Reading forward Sam Smith and experienced Burnley striker Jay Rodriguez to the STōK Cae Ras, as well as winger Ryan Longman from Hull City.

In the event of Wrexham making it to the Championship though for 2025-26, FLW's Red Dragons fan pundit Liam Grice believes that there will need to be a high turnover of players in Parkinson's squad if they are going to solidify themselves as a second tier outfit.

"Realistically, it depends on how the season finishes," Liam told FLW, when asked what his realistic transfer wish for the club would be this summer.

"If we stay in this division, we're going to need improvements anyway, but it's a whole other story if somehow we do go up to the Championship.

"I think we're going to need at least 10 signings and a lot of players are going to leave as well, so if I was to pick a realistic wish it's to get the recruitment right in the summer.

"I think the summer just gone was maybe in terms of how players have adapted to the team one of the poorest we've had since the takeover - that's not to say the players haven't been brilliant, but in windows before that we got the recruitment spot on, and I think going up the divisions so quickly hasn't helped with that either.

"Going up to the Championship is a whole different kettle of fish, and I think the players we'd be able to recruit would be better, we'd be able to get better fees for our players, it just allows us to do so much more if we go up.

"So, I think we need better bodies, better depth - realistically we need a lot more coming in that going out in the next transfer window."

Wrexham's January business suggests they're already preparing for life in the Championship

Wrexham caused quite a stir in the mid-season transfer window with their business - it was no Jay Stansfield to Birmingham, but the raiding of Reading for Sam Smith for a £2 million fee certainly grasped people's attention.

Adding a player with recent Premier League experience in Jay Rodriguez was also a good get, whilst pinching Longman from under the noses of Championship side Oxford United was certainly a coup too, given he has proven to be solid in the second tier.

It all points towards Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney and co building for a life in the Championship from next season onwards, but they need to get the better of Wycombe and others in the promotion battle first.

Wrexham will not want to finish third and have to drop into the play-offs, as they will likely come across sides with plenty of momentum, such as Charlton Athletic, so Wycombe need to be fended off in the final few weeks of the season if they are going to realise their goals - if they do, then Liam's preferred squad overhaul could get underway.