Wrexham have now made it three signings for the summer transfer window and may have left some managers frustrated along the way.
Phil Parkinson is looking to improve his squad ahead of the League One campaign and business has picked up in recent weeks.
Arthur Okonkwo was signing number one, agreeing a permanent move to the STōK Cae Ras after leaving Arsenal.
We have no doubt that managers around England and Europe were looking to sign Okonkwo, but Wrexham were able to get the deal done.
Lewis Brunt was next, agreeing to join Wrexham from Leicester City before George Dobson followed on Saturday afternoon.
The midfielder had signed a pre-contract agreement with Fehervar but chose to ditch the Hungarian side – and leave Charlton Athletic in the process – in order to choose a move to Wrexham.
Nigel Clough on Wrexham signing Lewis Brunt
The Brunt move will have certainly been a major source of frustration over at Mansfield Town.
Brunt spent last season on loan with the Stags and helped them win promotion from League Two alongside Wrexham.
Mansfield made Brunt their ‘number one target’ according to boss Nigel Clough, but had a bid rejected by Leicester.
Wrexham were able to swoop in and secure the deal, landing Brunt on a permanent basis.
Mansfield boss Clough has now been asked about the situation whilst speaking to Mansfield’s official X account.
Clough suggested that the race for Brunt’s signature was viewed as ‘neck-and-neck’ between Mansfield and fellow League One side Peterborough United.
Mansfield appeared to have made the highest bid but Clough claims that Wrexham simply blew both teams ‘out of the water’ financially.
Clough feels that Mansfield and Peterborough ‘can’t compete’ with Wrexham in terms of the fee and wages involved, believing that there is ‘absolutely nothing you can do’ in that situation.
“It was us and Peterborough, I think neck-and-neck for his signature, I think we’d just put an offer in slightly more than Peterborough’s,” said Clough. “As is the way, Wrexham came in and blew us both out of the water and paid quite a lot more than the two of us had bid, add in personal terms as well and the likes of us and Peterborough can’t compete with that.”
“There’s nothing you can do about it. If you lose players for something like £50 or something like that, or to somebody who’s not far off and you think ‘they’ve just chosen it for a particular reason’ or whatever, but when somebody comes and blows you out of the water financially, there’s absolutely nothing you can do,” he added.
Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds continue to make big additions
Ever since Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds came into the club, Wrexham have been able to strike big deals.
That doesn’t necessarily mean splashing millions of pounds on big-name signings, but more making statement additions relative to the level.
On multiple occasions, Wrexham have been able to land key players from higher divisions.
Paul Mullin and Ben Tozer spring to mind whilst even Elliot Lee dropped into the National League to join the Wrexham project.
Now in League One, Wrexham are even able to outmuscle an established Peterborough side in the transfer market.
That is hugely impressive and leaves Wrexham in a position to keep adding quality players in an effort to push towards the Championship.
Just imagine saying that five years ago.