08 June 2023 , 14:31
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Promoted Wrexham face a fight to keep highly-rated midfielder Tom O'Connor amid Championship interest.
The Welsh club are owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. They helped bankroll Wrexham out of the National League with a memorable title win before sending their stars to celebrate in Las Vegas.
Now they are preparing for an ambitious assault on the League Two title after bookies installed them as favourites. But Championship clubs including Coventry, who Wrexham beat in the FA Cup this term, are tracking ex-Southampton youngster O'Connor.
The left-footed Irish ace, 24 who made 32 appearances last season, impressed in holding midfield with seven goals and is in demand. He is under contract until June 2025 after joining from Burton Albion in January 2022.
While aiming to keep hold of their most prized assets, Wrexham chiefs are also on a recruitment drive this summer, bidding to make a strong return to League Two. Manager Phil Parkinson is keen to keep on building his squad, saying last month: "We will assess everything and keep all the good players we have got, and add a little bit of quality as the summer progresses."
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Parkinson added: "As we have said all along, the aim was to build a squad which would grow with the club. I feel we have got players who are ready for the next level. Of course, a lot of them have played at this level and above. There’s a few who haven’t but I feel they have got the potential to step up."
Have your say! Who should Wrexham sign this summer? Join the debate in the comments section.
In-demand Wrexham star Tom O'Connor could leave the Racecourse Ground (Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)Despite trying and failing to tempt Gareth Bale out of retirement, co-owners Reynolds and McElhenney insist that they aren't in control of Wrexham's transfer plans. "We defer to Phil" McElhenney told S4C shortly after their promotion.
"We are actively talking about that right now. I know for a fact he feels as though we have a very strong side. No decision that we have made over the last two years hasn't kept the future in mind, so we never make a short-term decision. Any player that we have signed, we have signed to at least a three-year deal, except for one (goalkeeper Ben Foster).
"He is the guy we are going to work on, but other than that, I think we have a very strong side. If Phil says we need somebody else, then we will do our best to go out and get them."
Fellow actor Reynolds went on to affirm: "At the end of the day, you can count on us to do whatever is in the best interest for the club and the community, but often the two of those are the same."