Wrexham will be looking for new signings this summer but have yet to strike an incoming deal since winning promotion to League One.
That isn’t to say that Wrexham are dawdling in the transfer market; we are still in May and retained lists are only just filtering through from Championship clubs.
Phil Parkinson will have plenty of business in mind and some targets are emerging in the media.
Released Wigan Athletic trio Tom Pearce, Stephen Humphrys and Josh Magennis are all thought to be on the Wrexham wish list.
Defender Marvin Ekpiteta – released by Blackpool this summer – is also believed to be a target for Wrexham.
Those moves may be worked on in the background but there is no doubting who Wrexham’s number one transfer target is this summer.
Arthur Okonkwo explains Arsenal exit
Wrexham saw goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo enjoy a superb loan spell at the STōK Cae Ras and understandably want to keep him for the long term.
Okonkwo joined Wrexham on loan from Arsenal following Ben Foster’s decision to retire just a handful of games into this past season.
Okonkwo arrived and became Wrexham’s number one stopper over the course of the season, turning in some exceptional displays.
Both Humphrey Ker and Phil Parkinson have made it clear that Wrexham want to sign Okonkwo permanently this summer.
The 22-year-old will become a free agent this summer with Arsenal deciding to let him go at the end of his contact.
Wrexham would love to bring him back on a permanent basis but there will be major competition from higher up the English football pyramid.
Okonkwo has now explained his Arsenal exit to The Mirror, accept that his time with the Gunners has been an ‘incredible journey’.
The giant stopper wants to really kick on with his career though, admitting that he could still play for England or Nigeria on the international stage.
Okonkwo feels that his Arsenal exit is ‘bittersweet’ but he is ambitious and wants to really progress with his career after a strong spell at Wrexham.
“It’s been an incredible journey, from joining at the age of eight, I’m now 22 and I’ve been there for 15 years which has been brilliant because I’ve worked with amazing people, from the academy to the first-team,” said Okonkwo.
“It’s a bittersweet moment because I have to start a new chapter as I’ve had so many great years at Arsenal but, in the last two years, I need to keep playing and carry on my journey. I’m still really ambitious to play at international level. I can still play for England or Nigeria and I’ve not made a choice yet. I think, at 22, you are still young as a ‘keeper and to have played this much, had so much experience can only help because my position is probably a lot tougher than people think,” he added.
Okonkwo must consider Wrexham
If Okonkwo wants to further his international ambitions, Wrexham may not be a bad shout.
Being featured on Welcome to Wrexham really puts you in the spotlight and the move has already helped one player live his international dream.
Jacob Mendy has admitted that joining Wrexham has given him the ideal platform to go on and become a Gambia international, with his presence at the club putting him on the Gambia radar.
Nigeria will surely be aware of Okonkwo’s talents and certainly should be exploring calling him up before England can land him.
Going and sitting on the bench at a perceivably ‘bigger’ club won’t aid Okonkwo’s dreams and if he wants to start and become a key player somewhere, Wrexham may be the ideal place for him to play his football.