Wrexham‘s remarkable rise through English football shows no sign of slowing down as co-owner Ryan Reynolds looks set to land another marquee signing to rival Tom Brady‘s ambitious backing of Birmingham City.
The North Wales side, under the stewardship of Reynolds and fellow Hollywood actor Rob McElhenney, are once again making headlines with bold moves in the transfer market.
Just days after smashing their transfer record with the capture of striker Nathan Broadhead from Ipswich Town, Wrexham are now closing in on Manchester City defender Callum Doyle in a deal worth around £8 million.
Doyle, 21, has become one of the Championship’s most consistent young defenders, making over 100 appearances in the division while on loan at Sunderland, Coventry, Leicester, and Norwich.
His arrival would mark yet another statement of intent from Wrexham, who continue to defy expectations following their historic achievement of winning three consecutive promotions, a feat unmatched in the history of English football’s top five divisions.
Big-spending Wrexham take aim at Championship stability
The club’s summer spending has already surpassed £10 million, with 10 new arrivals bolstering Phil Parkinson‘s squad ahead of their first campaign back in the Championship.
If Doyle completes his move, Wrexham’s outlay will reach approximately £18 million, a figure more commonly associated with long-established second-tier clubs rather than a side only just back from non-league football two years ago.
Broadhead‘s signing, reportedly worth an initial £7.5m plus £2.5m in add-ons, underlined Reynolds and McElhenney’s determination to strengthen in every area of the pitch.
The Welsh international penned a four-year deal at the Racecourse Ground, showing Wrexham‘s commitment to building a squad not just capable of surviving, but potentially challenging in the Championship.
Sheffield United and Rangers had expressed interest in Doyle, 21, but are no longer believed to be in the running after Wrexham jumped ahead in the transfer race.
Wrexham’s pull in the market is remarkable, considering the stature of rival clubs they are competing against.
The addition of Doyle, alongside proven talents like Lewis O’Brien, Kieffer Moore, and former England defender Conor Coady, would give Parkinson one of the most experienced and balanced squads in the division.
While Reynolds and McElhenney‘s ambitions are drawing comparisons with Tom Brady’s part-ownership of Birmingham, the Wrexham project is arguably advancing at a faster pace.
Brady may have boosted Birmingham’s global profile, but Wrexham are turning financial investment directly into promotion-chasing quality.
Elsewhere in Manchester, another City defender could also be on the move. Reports suggest that Turkish champions Galatasaray have enquired about Manuel Akanji, who has two years left on his contract.
The Swiss international, a regular under Pep Guardiola, may be sold to avoid leaving on a free transfer in the future.
For now, however, all eyes are on Reynolds and Wrexham. Landing Doyle would once again show that the Hollywood-backed club is not just here to make headlines, they are here to compete.
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