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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Kieran King

Wrexham boss confirms transfer plans after Gareth Bale and Premier League cult hero links

Phil Parkinson has admitted his Wrexham squad doesn't need a major overhaul this summer despite being linked with several former Premier League players.

The Red Dragons will play in League Two next season for the first time in 15 years after winning the National League in a titanic title race with Notts County. Parkinson's men broke the fifth-tier points record in the process, earning 111 from their 46 matches and they will now participate in the Football League.

Rumours have been flying about who Wrexham could sign in the summer transfer window, with Gareth Bale, Phil Jones and Morten Gamst Pederson among the possible targets. However, Parkinson has revealed that Wrexham don't need to go out and buy that many players.

He told GOAL: "There is always a lot of speculation every summer about players that we are looking at. We are just going about our business and looking at targets, but bearing in mind the fact that we have already got a strong squad to go into pre-season."

Parkinson added: "We are not in a summer where we need seven or eight players because the squad is strong. Of course, ideally, we would like to improve in one or two areas and we are looking to do that but my feeling is it might take a bit of time."

Wrexham stormed to the top of the National League and won the title in their last home game as they secured a 3-1 victory over Boreham Wood at the Racecourse Ground. Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney were asked about their favourite moments from a memorable campaign, which saw the women's team also win their respective league.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney will be preparing for Wrexham's first season in the English Football League in 15 years (Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

When asked about his favourite moment, McElhenney said: "That's so unfair. Wow. If I'm being dead honest, it's Rosie Hughes scoring that goal at the Racecourse. Having followed that part of the organization for the last year and following Rosie's story in particular. How cathartic and a dream come true it was to play at a full Racecourse.

"They're used to playing in front of a few hundred, then to go in front of 10,000. For me it wasn't just a celebration for the women - it was a celebration for the town itself. It's emblematic of exactly what we were hoping to happen with the community.

"They've galvanized and you all show for each other. Ryan and I weren't sure when we opened up the ticket sales for that game that there would be the same interest as a men's game. And it was because the people said 'let's show up and support everyone'.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney celebrated Wrexham's promotion to League Two with an open-top bus parade (Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

"I get goosebumps when I think about it. It's not about the win, that didn't matter as they'd already won the league. I think it's 10,000 people showing up to support another part of the community which I found beautiful."

Ryan Reynolds added: "Paul Mullin wants to be the male Rosie Hughes. One of my favourite moments was everyone signing one of Mullin's hat trick balls and I think it was Jordan Davies who put 'Rosie would have got four.' I thought that was great.

“But for me, it's pretty hard to top the feeling when Ben Foster saved that penalty from Cedwyn Scott. I saw something on social media of Ben, explaining his perfect moment as a goalkeeper - and it was a year before."

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