Wrexham are already making plans for the 2025 summer transfer window, and they could cost a great deal.
The 2024/25 season is still not over, and at present, Wrexham are locked in a tight battle to secure automatic promotion.
They are three points clear of third-place Wycombe Wanderers but have played a game more than their closest rivals.
Despite their promotion to the Championship still not being confirmed, however, the Red Dragons are eyeing a big name going into the next transfer window.
It emerged on Wednesday that Wrexham want to sign Tom Lawrence on a free transfer when his contract with Rangers expires at the end of the season.
The Welsh side face heavy competition for his signature, with a number of Championship outfits linked. But Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds are no strangers to landing big targets ahead of ‘better’ teams.
Tom Lawrence arrival at Wrexham will prove Humphrey Ker right
Lawrence has played 66 times for Rangers, scoring 12 goals and providing seven assists while doing so.
He’s got experience in Europe as well and would no doubt be a major coup for Wrexham if he does sign.
After the link to the 31-year-old, however, it’s clear that what Humphrey Ker predicted will indeed come true.
Speaking recently, Ker discussed Wrexham’s wage bill for if/when they are promoted to the Championship.
When doing so, he said that the club will have to quadruple the amount they are spending on wages this season.
For context, Wrexham spent £11m on wages in 2023/24, and that figure is only likely to have risen now that they are in League One, meaning an output of over £40m in the Championship is likely.
Jay Rodriguez is earning £15,000-a-week in Wales right now and is thought to be one if not the highest paid player at Rob and Ryan’s club.
However, as per Salary Sport, Lawrence is earning £22,000-a-week at Rangers right now and will probably want a similar figure, if not more, given he’ll be a free agent and have multiple clubs to pick from when deciding who to sign for in the summer.
That is just one potential target for the summer and is a clear indicator that Ker’s assessment of a heavily increased wage bill will come true.
- READ MORE: Wrexham will win promotion if Phil Parkinson heeds Rob McElhenney advice sent before crucial period
Wrexham top earners don’t come close to Tom Lawrence salary
Away from Rodriguez, it’s reported that the majority of Wrexham’s current players are earning less than £10,000-a-week.
George Evans and Geroge Dobson are reported to earn around £7,000-a-week, while the details of Sam Smith and Ryan Longman’s contracts aren’t available.
| Player | Weekly salary | Annual salary |
| George Dobson | £7,200 | £374,400 |
| George Evans | £7,200 | £374,400 |
| James McClean | £6,100 | £317,200 |
| Jack Marriott | £6,100 | £317,200 |
| Paul Mullin | £5,800 | £301,600 |
| Steven Fletcher | £5,600 | £291,200 |
| Andy Cannon | £5,500 | £286,000 |
| Will Boyle | £5,400 | £280,800 |
| Eoghan O’Connell | £5,300 | £275,600 |
| Oliver Rathbone | £4,800 | £249,600 |
| Ollie Palmer | £4,800 | £249,600 |
| Seb Revan | £4,600 | £239,200 |
| Elliot Lee | £4,300 | £223,600 |
| Luke Bolton | £4,000 | £208,000 |
| Thomas O’Connor | £3,600 | £187,200 |
| Dan Scarr | £3,400 | £176,800 |
| Ryan Barnett | £2,700 | £140,400 |
| Arthur Okonkwo | £2,500 | £130,000 |
| Jacob Mendy | £2,100 | £109,200 |
| Lewis Brunt | £2,000 | £104,000 |
| Mo Faal | £1,900 | £98,800 |
| Mark Howard | £1,900 | £98,800 |
| Callum Burton | £1,400 | £72,800 |
| Josh Adam | £1,100 | £57,200 |
| Liam Hall | £790 | £41,080 |
| Max Cleworth | £730 | £37,960 |
| Aaron James | £450 | £23,400 |
But it does show that the more quality players Pakinson and co. sign, the more they are going to have to spend on wages.
It shouldn’t be a big problem for the club, however, with Wrexham recording a record turnover last season.