Wrexham splash over £30m in record-breaking window but Ryan Reynolds fails to sort three things

Wrexham have splashed out more than £30million on new signings this summer as they aim to establish themselves in the Championship. The Red Dragons have enjoyed a rapid rise through the divisions under the ownership of Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, jumping from the National League to the second tier in a short period of time.

While the Welsh side have been no strangers to outspending their rivals during their climb up the ladder, the sums spent on transfers have remained relatively modest. Before last summer, Wrexham's record fee was the £300,000 paid to bring in striker Ollie Palmer from AFC Wimbledon in January 2022.

The club only broke the seven-figure barrier for the first time in January this year after shelling out around £2m on Reading frontman Sam Smith. However, their outlay has increased significantly over the last few months after achieving promotion from League One in April.

READ MORE: Wrexham's deadline day signing with Champions League experience as Frank Lampard annoyed

READ MORE: Wrexham star misses out on dream move after dad called out Ryan Reynolds transfers

Wrexham shattered their transfer record to buy Ipswich forward Nathan Broadhead in August for an initial £7.5m, but potentially rising to as much as £10m with add-ons. There were also several other notable arrivals, including Manchester City academy graduate Callum Doyle, who joined in a deal worth up to £7.5m.

Meanwhile, Coventry City midfielder Ben Sheaf was recruited on deadline day for £6.5m. Wrexham's overall spend during the transfer window is estimated to have reached around £33m after 13 new faces were added by manager Phil Parkinson.

The Hollywood-owned club's summer business has widely been hailed as positive by supporters, but with four points from their opening four league games, there is still room for improvement. Here, Mirror Football looks at the main issues Wrexham face in their quest for further glory.

More cover needed for Moore

One player who has really hit the ground running for Wrexham is Wales international striker Kieffer Moore. The 33-year-oldjoined the club from Championship rivals Sheffield United for £2m at the start of August.

Moore has so far scored four goals in five appearances for Parkinson's side, including the opener in Saturday's first league win of the season at Millwall. The only problem is the lack of back-up options for the number nine role, particularly following Ollie Palmer's recent departure to Swindon Town.

Wrexham have already had one scare afterMoore went down with an ankle injury in their opening game of the season at Southampton. Fortunately, he made a speedy recovery, but it's possible they won't always be as fortunate.

Parkinson does have a large number of attacking options, but the majority lack the same physicality that Moore brings to the table and is crucial in making the manager's preferred 3-5-2 formation work. Whether Wrexham will live to regret their failure to bring in a deputy with similar attributes remains to be seen.

Experienced goalkeeper's injury poses problem

Wrexham enjoyed their first Championship victory with a 2-0 win over Millwall on Saturday. But the result was overshadowed by a worrying injury to goalkeeper Danny Ward.

There were plenty of concerned faces at The Den as the former Leicester keeper was stretchered off the pitch during stoppage time following an aerial collision. Parkinson later confirmed the Wales international was knocked unconscious and also suffered an elbow injury.

The manager admitted after the match that he was "fearing the worst" after Ward's collision. The keeper was then pictured ordering a McDonald's at a service station in Buckinghamshire with his left arm wrapped in a sling after being spotted by a fan making their way home to North Wales.

Most supporters would argue that they already have a more than adequate replacement in former Arsenal man Arthur Okonkwo and ex-Plymouth shot-stopper Callum Burton. However, both are lacking in Championship experience and Wrexham's previous injury problems in goal mean it was surprising to see them not add another keeper on deadline day.

Large squad could cause disharmony

The volume of new arrivals at Wrexham could potentially pose challenges when Parkinson names his 25-man squad required under EFL rules later this week. The Red Dragons have had some success in moving players on this summer, albeit without receiving much money in return.

They include Tom O'Connor and Jacob Mendy, who both moved to Peterborough United on loan on deadline day, with George Evans joining Burton Albion after having his contract terminated. But Wrexham still have too many squad members when compared to the 25-player limit.

With 29 players aged 21 or over on their books, it means four will be left disappointed when the list is revealed. The situation has led to warnings that the situation could cause unrest within the camp, including from ex-Wales and Burnley striker Sam Vokes.

Speaking recently on the BBC's Feast of Football podcast, he said: "Does he [Parkinson] want more players, or more headaches? I saw that comment [on wanting more signings] and I don't know where he can fit them into the squad. I understand there's a bit of frustration there, but there is a real fine balance of having too many and having an unhappy camp."

Join our new WhatsApp communityand receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.