Wrexham are eyeing reinforcements this summer, and two potential incomings could force one player far down the pecking order and potentially toward the exit door.
With Championship football on the horizon, the Dragons are beginning work to improve their squad for their toughest season in decades.
On that front, Phil Parkinson has already said that players will leave Wrexham this summer either for their own careers or to help the club make room in their squad.
Right now, the Welsh side have 27 players aged 21 or above on their books, with Championship rules only allowing 25 to be registered.
Given the need for multiple signings, several exits are expected in the summer, and fans probably wouldn’t be surprised to see the likes of Luke Bolton and Will Boyle, who hardly featured across 2024/25, departing.
However, two potential incomings may mean one surprising name could need to look for a new club to either ensure he still plays regularly or because Wrexham need room in their squad.
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Wrexham transfers for Aaron Cresswell and Harry Diamond could be bad for one star
The Hollywood-backed club had one of the best defensive records in League One last term, but are still seemingly looking to improve in that area this summer.
It has been reported that Wrexham are interested in signing Aaron Cresswell once his West Ham United contract expires next month.
Cresswell is a versatile defender who is a very capable, natural left-back but has taken up a left-sided centre-back role in his old age.
Wrexham were linked with Harry Darling earlier in May as he too could be out of contract next month.
Fresh reports this week have said Darling’s contract decision is thought to be imminent, and if he turns down Swansea City, he could be on his way to the Red Dragons.
Darling is a centre-back who can operate in the centre or right-hand side of a backline.
Both players have a high level of experience and would take Wrexham’s centre-back options total to eight if they sign, which is probably at least one too many and could mean one player needs to go.
Thomas O’Connor could fall out of favour with new Wrexham signings
Right now, all of Lewis Brunt, Eoghan O’Connell, Max Cleworth, Dan Scarr, Thomas O’Connor, and academy sensation Aaron James are centre-back options at the club.
Brunt, O’Connell, and Cleworth were Wrexham’s main centre-back trio in 2024/25, though Scarr earned himself regular minutes at the end of the season with some superb showings en route to promotion.
James, meanwhile, still needs more experience, and it would be odd to see the club move him on given his clear potential.
So, if both Cresswell and Darling sign, it would likely mean O’Connor would need to leave, despite most fans probably not having him down as a potential exit this summer.
He was already low down the defensive pecking order last term, and additions of two higher-level defenders could mean he’s left in a similar position to Boyle was this term, who, even when injury-free, wasn’t really featuring because of squad rules and heavy competition.