Wrexham have largely recruited brilliantly in the Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds era, but have also been through some near misses.
Wrexham are embarking on another huge transfer window as Phil Parkinson seeks major additions after another promotion.
Summer recruitment has been exceptional over the last four years, with Wrexham striking important deals on this incredible journey.
2021 brought Paul Mullin, Elliot Lee arrived a year later, James McClean signed in 2023 and both Arthur Okonkwo and Ollie Rathbone joined the Wrexham journey last summer.
Wrexham have enjoyed great success in the transfer market and fans are eagerly awaiting more exciting business this summer.
Some deals slipped away from Wrexham, and they have actually worked out for the better in the long run.
Jamie Lindsay released after Wrexham interest
January 2024 saw Wrexham strike two late deals in the quest for promotion from League Two.
Right wing-back Luke Bolton and striker Jack Marriott arrived, helping Wrexham get over the line and secure a place in League One.
Parkinson wanted a third signing, though, and identified Rotherham United midfielder Jamie Lindsay as a key target.
Wrexham were close to signing Lindsay in a six-figure move, but the window closed without a deal in place with the Millers.
Wrexham remained keen on Lindsay ahead of the summer window but actually ended up signing his Rotherham teammate Ollie Rathbone instead.
Rotherham released Lindsay and the midfielder completed a move to Bristol Rovers, ending the Wrexham rumours once and for all.
The 29-year-old endured a miserable season, featuring in just 28 of Bristol Rovers’ 46 League One games.
Lindsay was effectively frozen out under Inigo Calderon, playing just 19 minutes of League One action from the end of February to the close of the campaign.
With the summer now upon us, Bristol Rovers have confirmed that they have released Lindsay just one year into his three-year contract.
Lindsay has admitted struggling living away from his family and is ‘gutted’ to be leaving Bristol Rovers in such circumstances, having been unable to help them avoid relegation.
Lindsay will now search for another opportunity in the game and hopefully recapture some of his Rotherham form with his next switch.
Wrexham have turned transfer misses into real success
Luke Armstrong certainly springs to mind after Wrexham struck a deal to sign the striker from Harrogate Town on deadline day in 2023.
The deal was not completed in time, meaning Wrexham moved on and signed Steven Fletcher on a free transfer.
That move worked out perfectly for Wrexham as Fletcher became a goalscoring hero with his exploits off the bench.
Armstrong joined Carlisle United just a few months after Wrexham missed out on a then-club-record £500,000 move.
The 28-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Motherwell and now returns with Carlisle in the National League.
It’s often said it’s sometimes better to be lucky than good, and in the cases of Lindsay and Armstrong, Wrexham were both.
Lindsay and Armstrong were so close to joining Wrexham but have slipped down the leagues ever since, albeit not always within their own control.
Wrexham’s culture is so strong that we could easily imagine a world in which both Lindsay and Armstrong settled in and contributed massively to Wrexham’s rise.
The players Wrexham signed instead have become fan favourites over the years and helped achieve promotion to the Championship, with Parkinson ultimately coming out on top from those transfer sagas.