After three promotions on the trot starting from the National League, Wrexham are preparing for life in the second tier next season for the first time since 1982.
Next season will be a huge challenge for the North Wales side as they will look to consolidate themselves in the Championship. In order to do that, Phil Parkinson’s side will need to recruit some new faces to the squad this summer.
A number of the players in the squad have been with the club since the National League and League Two campaigns. This article will take a look at five players the Red Dragons could sign this summer to consolidate themselves in the Championship.
Mustapha Bundu – Plymouth Argyle
Mustapha Bundu knows what it is like to rise through the pyramid like Wrexham, having started his career in England in 2015 with Hereford in the Midland League Premier Division. The forward has had an impressive season with Plymouth and is set to leave the Devon side on a free this summer.
Despite a number of forwards on Wrexham’s books, there are few who are likely to make an impact in the Championship which is why a move for Bundu could be a smart one. The 28 year old would give versatility to Wrexham’s attack with his ability to play through the middle or out wide on either flank.
In an Argyle side that was relegated from the second tier, Bundu achieved 16 goal contributions (10 goals and six assists) across the season. Further backing up the Sierra Leone international’s ability to provide attacking quality is stats from fbref stating that within the last year he has completed an average of 2.46 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes.
Wrexham will likely rely on Sam Smith to score the goals next season but securing Bundu’s services on a free transfer could be a smart piece of recruitment. His ability to offer pace and trickery would diversify Phil Parkinson’s options in attack during the 2025-26 season.
Charlie Savage – Reading
One player who could make the step up to the Championship from League One with Wrexham is Reading’s Charlie Savage. The 22 year old midfielder has had an impressive campaign with the Royals and just missed out on the play-offs on the last day of the season.
The former Manchester United youngster contributed to 14 goals (five goals and nine assists) in League One. He could provide energy and a box-to-box ability for Wrexham in the Championship.
Stats from Fotmob show how Savage could provide an attacking threat for Wrexham having had an average of 1.83 shots and 1.52 chances created per 90 minutes for Reading during the 2024-25 season. On top of this, the 22 year old carries out his defensive duties having won 74.3% of tackles and an average of 4.29 recoveries per 90 minutes on average.
Given Savage’s age it would be a move with the future in mind for Wrexham. The young midfielder could either become a key member of the Wrexham squad in future seasons or have a significant sell-on fee should Savage develop quicker than Wrexham.
The sticking point for the Red Dragons will be the two years remaining on the Reading midfielder’s contract. Signing Savage may rely on Wrexham coughing up a bigger fee than the risk they would be willing to take on the 22 year old.
Callum Doyle – Manchester City
Wrexham could look to a player who has years of experience within the Championship at 21 years old in Callum Doyle. The defender has most recently been on loan with Norwich City and previously represented Leicester City, Coventry City and Sunderland.
Wrexham could look to add the young defender to their squad for their Championship campaign after uncertainty surrounds his future at Manchester City. With young players such as Rico Lewis and Nico O’Reilly impressing at the Etihad, Doyle has spoken openly about a permanent move away from Manchester.
The 21 year old has proved through numerous loan spells the impact he could have on this Wrexham side. His experience of reaching the play-offs with Coventry and winning the title with Leicester would suit the ambition that Wrexham have of progressing through the Championship.
Doyle would be another player to bring versatility to Parkinson’s defence having played at both centre-back and left-back during his spell at Norwich. Wrexham ranked third in League One for accurate long-balls per match and Doyle, as shown by Fotmob, has the ability to pick out passes with a 86.1% passing accuracy, an average of 3.71 accurate long balls and 5 progressive passes per 90 minutes on average.
Other clubs in the Championship and Europe might take their chances at enticing Doyle to their club this summer. Despite this, the 21 year old may be excited by the project at Wrexham and the upward mobility the North Wales side could provide.
Max Bird – Bristol City
If Wrexham want to be ambitious in the Championship next season, they may well need to recruit players from those sides around them in the division. Signing Bristol City’s Max Bird could well be that option.
The 24 year old is another box-to-box midfielder who could add Championship quality to Wrexham’s squad. Bird contributed eight assists to Bristol City’s play-off campaign and was a consistent creative force in the Robins engine room.
Fbref shows that the midfielder created an average of 3.54 shot-creating actions and 6.05 progressive passes per 90 minutes within the last year. It is also defensively that Bird could improve Wrexham having won 67.4% of tackles and made on average 4.3 possession recoveries per 90 minutes.
With a number of their current midfielders aged 30 or above, the Bristol City midfielder would be a smart addition in order to provide legs and energy in what is likely to be a demanding season. The 24 year old will potentially fit into Wrexham’s side seamlessly as well having played in a similar role in the 3-4-3 formation for the Robins.
Similar to Savage, Bird has two years remaining on his contract at Ashton Gate so would likely require a big fee to secure his services. However, having proved himself in the second tier during the 2024-25 season it would be a big statement of intent from Wrexham should they pursue the signing of the 24 year old.
Jamal Lewis – Newcastle United
One position that Wrexham could look to strengthen this summer is in the wing-back areas and Lewis might be a smart piece of recruitment. Currently McClean has been Parkinson’s first choice in the wing-back position but at the age of 36 and with a step up the pyramid, the Irishman may not be able to perform consistently.
Lewis is out of contract at Newcastle this summer and has most recently spent time on loan in Brazil with São Paulo before injury ended his time in South America. Despite this, the 27 year old could be a good option on a free transfer for Wrexham.
The Northern Ireland international would bring experience to the North Wales side. Lewis won the Championship with Norwich City in 2019 and played in the Premier League for the Canaries and Newcastle until falling out of favour at St James’ Park.
During his most recent spell in the second tier with Watford, the full-back showed his ability both defensively and going forward with a 60.6% tackle success rate and an average of 1.94 progressive carriers completed per 90 minutes. In addition to this, the 27 year old created an average of 1.07 chances per 90 minutes from a full-back position showing the threat he has going forward.
Lewis is in need of a move to reignite his career having shown promise during his youth at Norwich. Wrexham may view his experience and ability as a good addition on a free transfer to provide competition to McClean next season.