Contracts and transfers - Wrexham's summer in-tray

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Phil Parkinson (second left) has won promotion in three of his five seasons as Wrexham manager [Getty Images]

With the dust settled on Wrexham's 2025-26 season, the focus has already shifted to what lies ahead.

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The Red Dragons missed out on a Championship play-off spot in agonising fashion on the final day of the regular season.

Nevertheless, having finished seventh in what was their first campaign in the second tier in 43 years, Phil Parkinson's men achieved their highest-ever league finish.

They also ended the season as the best-ranked Welsh club in the English pyramid for the first time in a quarter of a century.

But what is required to take that crucial next step as the club continues to aim for the Premier League?

BBC Sport looks at the key issues Wrexham need to resolve this summer in a bid to be even stronger in 2026-27.

What went well and what needs improving?

Scoring goals was rarely an issue last term.

Despite having just 820 touches in the opposition box during the season, the second-lowest amount among the 24 Championship sides, the Red Dragons were incredibly clinical.

They scored 69 league goals, with only five teams managing more.

Their expected goals (xG) tally was just 56.79, meaning they outperformed their xG by 12.21, the best over-performance of any team in the second tier.

Only Hull City and Derby County - their two challengers for a play-off spot on the final day - bettered Wrexham's 13.24% shot conversion rate.

With the likes of Kieffer Moore, Sam Smith and Dom Hyam in their ranks, their physicality and height was also important in both their build-up and defensive play - with Wrexham's 54.5% success rate in winning aerial duels being the joint-best in the Championship alongside promoted Ipswich Town.

But there is no doubt that the Red Dragons need to improve defensively.

Just five Championship teams - including Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester City who were relegated - conceded more than the 65 goals Wrexham shipped in the league last term.

It's perhaps understandable to see why they conceded so many times.

Parkinson's men faced 203 shots on target, the fourth-highest figure in the division.

Fine-tuning and streamlining the aim, not an overhaul

Having signed 13 players last summer to overcome the gap from League One to the Championship, there will likely be significantly fewer arrivals this time around.

"I think they need at least three or four players. Is that a major overhaul? I don't think so," former Wrexham player and manager Brian Flynn told BBC Radio Wales Sport.

Once the club's stance on issues including loan players and contracts is fully clear, Parkinson can press on with his pursuit of players.

"We know where we'd like to strengthen and what we need to improve on," the manager said in the aftermath of his side's 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough.

"And we'll do that, and we'll make this squad as strong as we possibly can to mount a challenge next year."

Co-owner Ryan Reynolds famously said that running a football club is like "lighting money on fire, except it doesn't keep you warm".

But the Deadpool star, along with co-chairman Rob Mac, is likely to sanction further significant spending in the upcoming window.

Particularly on the back of James McClean's departure in January, the wing-back positions need attention given Liberato Cacace's injury record and Issa Kabore's loan from Manchester City expiring.

As seen with Zak Vyner in January, Parkinson is more than willing to reignite interest in targets from previous windows.

Portsmouth's Terry Devlin and Istanbul Basaksehir's Festy Ebosele were some of the wing-back options in January and could potentially, among others, be pursued again.

Wrexham had numerous issues in midfield in the latter stages of the season and may well seek to upgrade in that position.

Parkinson has also always been keen to have an array of reliable forward options at his disposal. An additional Championship-ready forward would likely be welcomed at Stok Cae Ras.

Alterations in other areas, notably in the goalkeeper department and in defence, could hinge on the situations of some of those already in Wrexham's ranks.

Contracts and transfers

Many of the above outcomes will depend on which players are deemed surplus to requirements.

Paul Mullin and Elliot Lee - men who were pivotal in the earlier stages of the club's rise from the National League - joined Bradford City and Doncaster Rovers respectively on loan in January, although both remain contracted to Wrexham.

Others - including Andy Cannon, Mo Faal and Harry Ashfield - left during the winter window to gain some much-needed minutes elsewhere.

Summer signings Ryan Hardie and Conor Coady headed to Huddersfield Town and Charlton Athletic respectively on loan after failing to make an impact in north Wales in the opening half of the season.

Players including midfielder Lee, striker Mullin and defender Coady have already publicly spoken about their futures, although Parkinson is expected to hold talks with all members of his squad privately to determine what happens next.

The club are yet to publish their retained list, with the likes of Jay Rodriguez, Cannon, Reuben Egan, Aaron James and loan man Kabore all out of contract this summer. Wrexham hold a one-year extension option when it comes to Cannon, although his future appears to lie elsewhere.

The goalkeeper situation has become an interesting one and will certainly be assessed this summer given that both Danny Ward and Arthur Okonkwo have just one year left to run on their deals.

While appreciative of their contributions to the club's rise, others including Ryan Barnett and Lewis Brunt, who both had a limited impact last term for varying reasons, will at best only be back-up next term.

One plus side, particularly given the spotlight on the club's spending under their Hollywood owners, is that Wrexham will likely recoup some decent sums of money for players this summer.

Then there are those such as Callum Doyle and Max Cleworth who are the front runners to attract transfer interest from elsewhere.

Captain Hyam - one of Wrexham's best-performing signings from last summer - has already said he expects former Manchester City defender Doyle to attract attention from "big clubs", adding that the 22-year-old has a "big future".

So more club heroes will bid farewell to Wrexham this summer. There will be more spending on signings.

But it will all be with the long-established aim of reaching the top-flight in mind.

A huge summer awaits.

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