As Wrexham prepare for life in the Championship, Phil Parkinson may well be tempted to take a look at the players heading down to League One after relegation this season.
Obviously, Wrexham have big ambitions to be one of the top clubs in the Championship, be it next season or in the years to come.
To do so, Phil Parkinson will need to freshen up his Wrexham squad with some top talent, and that means spending a lot of Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds’ money.
While fans may be hoping the Red Dragons will look at the Premier League for players they can pinch, it’s always worth looking at the teams that have just been relegated to see what gems you can find among the rubble.
With that in mind, here are five brilliant options Wrexham simply have to consider this summer.
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Five players Wrexham have to look at this summer after Championship relegation
Maksym Talovierov
This big, Ukrainian beast of a defender only signed for Plymouth Argyle in January for £1.7m, but he’s made a huge impression in a short space of time.
With an imposing physical frame, a great awareness of the game around him, and a comfortableness on the ball, Maksym Talovierov would be a brilliant signing for a Wrexham side looking to make their presence felt in the second tier.
He’s thought to be one of three defenders Parkinson is looking at this summer, and while other clubs are interested too, Wrexham simply have to make this signing happen.
Ryan Hardie
Talovierov is not the only Plymouth player Wrexham could and should be eyeing up, with striker Ryan Hardie very much on their radar already.
Hardie was linked with Wrexham in January, and after bagging 12 goals for a relegated team, it’s easy to see why the Red Dragons would be keen.
Wrexham need to add proven goalscorers to their squad for next season, and while Hardie is thought to be happy at Plymouth, the lure of a return to the Championship will surely tempt him away.
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Alfie Doughty
It’s time for a difficult conversation around Wrexham captain James McClean. He’s had a brilliant career and was integral to adding that fire and spirit the team needed to get over the line this season.
But, at 36-years-old, his career is naturally coming to an end soon. There’s no way Wrexham should get rid of McClean by any means, as his influence is huge, but they do need someone to step in and take over on that left-hand side.
That’s where Luton Town’s Alfie Doughty comes in. He was one of the most impressive players in the Hatters’ short-lived but inspiring Premier League adventure, and he’s far too good to be playing in League One.
Someone in the Championship will certainly snap up the 25-year-old this summer, and it should be Wrexham.
Thelo Aasgaard
Another player who is way too good for League One, having proven as much in the first half of the campaign, is Luton’s Thelo Aasgaard.
The young winger made a name for himself at Wigan Athletic this term before sealing a move to Luton in January. Aasgaard showed what he can do in the Championship with two goals and an assist for his new team, but it wasn’t enough to keep them up.
Like Doughty, there are sure to be clubs keen on Aasgaard, and he’s the kind of vibrant, young talent that could give Wrexham’s attack a whole new dimension in the second tier.
Yousef Salech
We know the idea of a move from one Welsh club to another might be controversial, but there’ll be a number of Cardiff City players desperate to escape League One before the start of next season, and Wrexham could help them out.
While Callum Robinson appears to be the obvious target for most, Wrexham would be wise to look beyond him and try to sign the younger, more versatile Yousef Salech instead.
The Danish striker bagged eight goals this season and largely went under the radar in a struggling Cardiff side. He might not quite be the kind of striker who will bag 20+ goals, but if Wrexham are looking for squad depth (which they desperately need), he would be a great addition to the forward line.