Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson looks as though he’s already hard at work ahead of the summer transfer window opening in June.
Phil Parkinson will be a man hard at work throughout the summer, following Wrexham’s promotion to the Championship after an impressive 2nd place finish in the 2024/25 League One table.
Wrexham already have a growing number of names being linked with summer transfer moves to the Racecourse including a number of attacking players, such as Callum Robinson and Ryan Hardie.
Cardiff City have been relegated from the Championship along with Plymouth. Now it looks like Robinson could leave Cardiff City and Hardie could leave Plymouth, potentially hinting at Wrexham’s plans to raid the relegated Championship clubs.
It also hints at Wrexham’s plans to bolster their frontline, too. But the last week has seen a trio of defensive names linked with the club.
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Wrexham eye defenders Jonny Evans, Harry Darling, and Maksym Talovierov
The centre-back position is looking like one where Parkinson wants to bolster this summer. Understandably so too given the fact he’s been playing with three of them on the pitch, and also the fact that Eoghan O’Connell is out of contract at Wrexham this summer. It might be safe to assume he’s kept on, though.
Conveniently though, Wrexham have been linked with a handful of centre-backs. One being the 2008 Champions League winner and Man United and Ireland legend Jonny Evans. It’s reported that Wrexham want to sign Evans on a free transfer this summer, with the 37-year-old leaving Old Trafford for a second time.
Elsewhere, Wrexham have been linked with Harry Darling at Swansea City. Like Evans, Darling sees his contract expire this summer and the Dragons could now upset their Welsh rivals and poach their 2022 £1million signing from MK Dons for nothing.
The last name mentioned is Maksym Talovierov. Along with Hardie, Talovierov has been relegated with Plymouth this season. And along with Hardie he could yet be handed a Championship lifeline with Wrexham who are interested in signing Talovierov this summer.
The best candidate for Wrexham is clear
Any one of these three names signing this summer would be a boost for Parkinson. But Darling certainly seems like the best option of the three.
Evans is of course the most experienced and decorated of the trio. Like so many others who’ve signed for Wrexham in the twilight of their career, he could certainly do a job for the Dragons, but for how long is the question.
Talovierov meanwhile only featured 11 times in the Championship last season and in the league’s worst defence too, conceding 88 times in 46 games.
But Darling played a key role in a Swansea side that finished in a commendable 11th place. He played 39 times getting another season of Championship football under his belt, also scoring five times from centre-back.
| Stat (league, P/G) | Eoghan O’Connell in 24/25 | Harry Darling in 24/25 |
| Interceptions | 1.2 | 0.6 |
| Tackles | 1.5 | 0.8 |
| Balls recovered | 4.7 | 3.9 |
| Dribbled past | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| Clearances | 7.8 | 5 |
He’s a threat in the air and a good ball-player too. At 25 years old as well, Darling is yet to come into his prime years. If Wrexham can land him on a free transfer then this could be a very good signing for Parkinson.