Wrexham transfer targets GFXGetty/GOAL

Wrexham transfer targets: Jamie Vardy, Patrick Bamford & eight potential summer signings as Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney's Red Dragons prepare for the Championship

As the dust settles on Wrexham's remarkable third-consecutive promotion, attentions behind the scenes will be turning to preparations for life in the Championship. Indeed, Rob McElhenney's co-owner and fellow Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds is already struggling to focus on the present, admitting "it's hard to avoid immediately starting work on next season".

Such is the fiercely competitive nature of England's second tier, the squad that achieved the unprecedented feat for the Red Dragons is certain to be picked apart and reconfigured in the coming months, in a bid to not only survive but push for an unlikely Premier League tilt.

Manager Phil Parkinson is under no allusions as to the task at hand. "We've got a lot of work to do this summer because we know we're going into a huge division in terms of the stature of the clubs in it," he told the BBC. "We'll take a week or two to take stock of everything, have a good look at the market out there and what we need to do."

But who are the new signings Wrexham could target, both dream and realistic? GOAL runs through eight potential options for the newly-promoted, North Welsh side...

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    Patrick Bamford

    Fancy a Championship stalwart? Patrick Bamford could well be sold by Leeds United this summer as they prepare to return to the Premier League, having fallen down the pecking order and failed to score all season, and Wrexham are said to be interested.

    The striker's contract expires in 2026 and therefore the Red Dragons could land him for a cut price, although his £40,000-per-week wages may be a problem. Bamford is certainly a proven goal-scorer at Championship level and would be a potential upgrade on some of the Welsh side's current options.

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    Ben Davies

    This is blue-skies stuff, but Tottenham's Ben Davies is a Wales legend and another soon-to-be free agent - bringing him on board would be a huge statement of intent as Wrexham go in search of an unprecedented fourth promotion in a row.

    At 32, the defender could be tempted to take the step down, but there is no ruling out a new contract at Spurs, with Davies' family settled in north London and his performance levels rarely dipping. His relatively-low salary also won't be viewed as burdensome by the north Londoners.

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    Jonny Evans

    Vastly-experienced Jonny Evans is another veteran who is set to become a free agent this summer as the centre-back prepares to walk away from Manchester United for the second - and surely final - time. He's been linked with Wrexham, and the move might actually be logical.

    Evans seems unlikely to be determined to stay in the Premier League and he would be a quality, lower-cost option who could be an ideal mentor to younger defenders like Max Cleworth and Lewis Brunt as they make the step up to the Championship.

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    Tom Lawrence

    It would be of little surprise if Reynolds, McElhenney and Co. plan to target the best Welsh talent on the market this summer as they look to pull on some heartstrings to strengthen their squad, and Rangers attacking midfielder Tom Lawrence could fit the bill perfectly.

    The Manchester United academy graduate was born in Wrexham and, aged 31 with his contract in Glasgow about to expire, he may feel the time is right to make an emotional return to his hometown having never played for the Red Dragons. He has been linked with a homecoming, and is said to be flattered by Wrexham's interest.

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    Charlie Kelman

    Leyton Orient standing any chance of keeping hold of Charlie Kelman will be contingent on their ensuring a play-off place on the final day of the League One season, and subsequent promotion could change everything.

    The striker is League One's top scorer with 21 goals to his name (25 in all competitions), but the fact he is on loan from Queens Park Rangers may complicate matters. After such a prolific campaign the 23-year-old will want to be a starter in the Championship, and Wrexham could offer him that role.

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    Richard Kone

    A man Wrexham will surely have an eye on, especially if Wycombe Wanderers aren't promoted to the Championship via the play-offs, is striker Richard Kone, who swept the League One categories at the EFL Awards recently, courtesy of his 18-goal season for the Chairboys.

    Like Wrexham, Kone was playing non-league very recently and, just like his potential suitors, the 21-year-old is destined for the second tier in the near future, one way or another. The former Premier League trialist is sure to generate plenty of interest in the coming months.

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    John Swift

    Despite being a Championship stalwart, Chelsea academy product John Swift is still just 29, and as his contract at West Brom runs down, he represents a free and significant midfield upgrade for the Red Dragons.

    Whether that is a priority for Parkinson, Reynolds and McElhenney remains to be seen, with Wrexham well-stocked in that part of the pitch with George Dobson, Ollie Rathbone and Elliot Lee - but Championship experience is going to be key to a successful campaign.

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    Jamie Vardy

    Jamie Vardy's announcement that he will leave Leicester City when his contract expires at the end of the season saw links with Reynolds and McElhenney's project in north Wales ramp up, but this is a deal that might remain a pipe dream.

    The striker reportedly backs himself to continue in the Premier League, so probably has his eye on a move to a newly-promoted top-flight club, rather than one that has just arrived in the Championship. Even if Vardy would be deadly in the second tier, his reported wages of north of £100,000 per week would surely be a stumbling block.