Wrexham need to strengthen a number of positions this summer and Phil Parkinson will be paying particular attention to the goalkeeping situation.
Phil Parkinson and co are busy preparing for life in League One having been promoted almost two months ago.
Wrexham are yet to bring in a new signing this summer but there are targets in mind at the STōK Cae Ras.
Rob McElhenney has already confirmed that talks have been held over a potential deal to bring Arthur Okonkwo back to the club on a permanent basis.
Okonkwo was a firm fan favourite during his loan spell from Arsenal and has now left the Gunners on a free transfer.
Wrexham hope to bring Okonkwo back to the club in a major coup but there are other situations to resolve in goal too.
Luke McNicholas on Wrexham situation
Veteran stopper Mark Howard is out of contract this summer and has been offered new terms to stay at the club.
Howard is likely to sign on and would be viewed as the backup stopper heading into the new season.
Whether it’s Okonkwo or somebody else, Wrexham fans are anticipating that next season’s number one isn’t currently on the books.
That is somewhat forgetting about Luke McNicholas, who joined Wrexham from Sligo Rovers last summer.
Initially snapped up on loan, McNicholas ended up signing permanently for £100,000 in January having impressed in the Republic of Ireland.
The 24-year-old is yet to make a league appearance for Wrexham though and he has now spoken about his Wrexham role in the Irish press.
Speaking to Western People, McNicholas admitted that it was ‘great’ to finalise a permanent move given the lingering uncertainty he felt in his first few months at the club.
McNicholas added that being on the bench his ‘not what I want’, especially having been the first-choice goalkeeper at Sligo Rovers.
McNicholas has acknowledged that there is ‘uncertainty’ over Okonkwo’s future but he has spoken to people at Wrexham and he is willing to bid his time in his pursuit of first-team action.
“It was great to it all finalised to have the deal made permanent,” said McNicholas. “I knew that it would be but in football nothing is ever certain until the contract is in front of you and you 100% get to sign on the dotted line. I played a few games for the reserves in the Central League and also played three games for the first team in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy against Crewe, Port Vale and Burton Albion. I was on the bench for the first team a few times as well. It’s not what I want seeing as I had been playing regularly with Rovers but I know that these things take time and that I have to be patient and take my chance when it comes.”
“My job is to make sure that I am ready when I do get the chance. I just have to keep focused on myself and make sure that I am right and ready to go. I have spoken with the club and I know there is uncertainty as to whether or not Arthur Okonkwo will be coming back. That is all out of my control. I just have to make sure that I am in the best position physically and mentally when the chance comes,” he added.
McNicholas on Wrexham owners
Moving from third to first choice would be huge for McNicholas and you never know what can happen over the course of a full pre-season.
The first task is to really push ahead of experienced stopper Howard and then push towards Okonkwo or whoever is Wrexham’s number one next term.
That is the goal for McNicholas, who has the talent to make an impact for Wrexham down the line.
The goalkeeper also spoke about owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, admitting that they are both ‘really top guys’.
McNicholas praised the recent promotion party in Las Vegas as ‘unbelievable’ and loves feeling valued by McElhenney and Reynolds.
“Yeah to be honest the Las Vegas trip was unbelievable. It was a once in a lifetime trip and shows how much the owners care about the club and the players,” said McNicholas. “They really value us all and the efforts that we put in and they showed that by bringing us away. Like I say, it really was a once in a lifetime experience unless of course we get promoted again! I have met the owners a couple of times now, they are really top guys,” he added.
McNicholas is clearly loving the Wrexham experience despite his lack of first-team action, and he will be hoping for a real season or progress as he prepares for life in League One.