Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney warned Wrexham can't reach Premier League by 2027 without breaking financial rules as Hollywood co-owners offered transfer advice

On the back of three successive promotions, the Red Dragons are now just one step away from rubbing shoulders with the elite of English football. Hollywood co-owners have never shied away from the fact that they want to bring top-flight action to North Wales.

Reynolds and McElhenney have helped to fund a meteoric rise, with more investment now being sought as Wrexham’s revenue figures and overall valuation soar. The plan is to bring in Premier League pedigree during the summer transfer window of 2025.

Wrexham have plenty of room for manoeuvre when it comes to Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), but they may need to step outside of those regulations - as part of elaborate spending sprees - in order to compete with rivals that boast even deeper pockets.

Sports finance expert Dr Rob Wilson has told BettingLounge of the Red Dragons’ bid to reach the top tier in the not too distant future: “I don't see how Wrexham can get into the Premier League in a season or two without breaching the financial regulations that exist within the division. However, you would probably argue given their trajectory that if they were to get into the Premier League, they would probably stay there for a little while.

“Then they could afford to take any hit if they were then ultimately relegated at some point. I think mid-table is probably where I think you'd see an incredible amount of investment to try and protect that. It links with the new stadium and with some of the broader plans to activate the commercial and the broadcast opportunities.”

Wilson added: “Probably mid-table would be a good shout, but they'll have to invest heavily to achieve that. I'm probably with some of the Championship club chief executives and I think it'll be incredibly difficult for them to do that mainly because of parachute payments.

“So all those clubs coming out are three times more likely to be promoted next year than anybody that doesn't have a parachute payment. The odds are heavily stacked against them, but who'd have thought Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney would have owned Wrexham a few years ago.

“In Tom Cairney, that's the sort of bracket of player they need to be looking at is, good quality professional experience that can elevate them rather than going for too many of these kinds of super names.”

Wrexham have been linked with Fulham captain Cairney, as he prepares to hit free agency, alongside a number of other proven top-flight performers. Phil Parkinson is busy identifying targets ahead of a pre-season tour to Australia and New Zealand.