A £25m player who possesses attacking “flair” has a verbal agreement with Aston Villa over a move in the current transfer window, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

Aston Villa transfer news

There are plenty of incoming and outgoing rumours surrounding the Villans currently, with Jaden Philogene linked with a move away from the club in January. The 22-year-old has only managed two starts in the Premier League so far this season and talks are underway over a possible exit in the coming weeks.

Dewa United wide man Taisei Marukawa is a reported new signing for Villa, giving Unai Emery additional depth in attacking areas for the second half of the Premier League season.

Elsewhere, Celtic winger Nicolas Kuhn is another player who has been backed to seal a move to Vila Park in the near future, having become one of the most dangerous players in the Scottish Premiership. He has nine goals and six assists in the league for the Hoops this season, with his ability to thrive on the right-hand side and cut inside so difficult to defend against.

One high-profile rumoured transfer target for the Villans is Paris Saint-Germain star Marco Asensio, who similarly adopts the same position as Kuhn. Whether the Midlands outfit are able to entice him to the club remains to be seen, though.

Aston Villa have verbal agreement with £25m ace

According to Jacobs on X, Aston Villa have a verbal agreement in place with Borussia Dortmund attacker Donyell Malen. However, the club are yet to strike a deal with the Bundesliga giants, who want £25m for the Dutch forward.

Malen has the potential to be such an eye-catching signing for Villa, so this update is hugely encouraging, as Emery searches for more attacking firepower in the final third.

The Dutchman has 59 goal contributions (39 goals and 20 assists) in 131 appearances for Dortmund, which outlines his end product, not to mention netting nine times in 41 caps for the Netherlands. Meanwhile, former Dortmund boss Marco Rose also once lauded his ability back in 2021, saying:

“We’ve always said that we’re convinced of his abilities, but it was always clear to us that he needs time to adapt. He has done that very well in the last few weeks. He’s playing with a lot more confidence, asking for the ball more, demonstrating his flair and chipping in in front of goal. Now we have to work to make sure he can keep it up.”

Donyell Malen’s club career stats	Appearances	Goals	Assists
Borussia Dortmund	131	39	20
PSV Eindhoven	116	55	24
Arsenal Under-21s	24	7	2
PSV Eindhoven Under-21s	22	13	3
Arsenal Under-18s	21	11	4

At 25, Malen appears to be in a sweet spot in his career, possessing lots of experience but also being young enough to improve further, so Villa could be signing a player with another five or six years in him at the top level, at least.

The former USMNT defender sent a message to the Americans about taking the trophy: 'This is what we expect you to do'

• Lalas says Gold Cup should be standard, not praised
• He calls for focus on World Cup preparation
• USMNT coming off two losses in Nations League

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED

  Following the USMNT’s poor showing at the CONCACAF Nations League finals, with losses to both Panama and Canada, questions have been raised about how Mauricio Pochettino's side will perform at the upcoming 2025 Gold Cup.

  Former USMNT star Alexi Lalas says winning the tournament should be the minimum expectation.

  "I find myself kind of fantasizing about this summer, obviously, where I have a lot of focus on 2026," Lalas said on his State of the Union Podcast. "Trying to imagine how I will, or how I should feel, if the U.S. were to live up to what I say, and to win the Gold Cup… I picture myself saying there's no confetti, there's no music, there's no 'Hey, good job guys," Because this is what we expect you to do. And now that you're finally living up to it, you don't get an attaboy relative to what you have done in here in the past."

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• WHAT ALEXI LALAS SAID

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The USMNT finished a disappointing fourth in the 2025 Nations League. That marked the first time since 2019 that they had lost consecutive matches to CONCACAF opposition, and the first time they failed to win the Nations League. Meanwhile, Mexico captured their first Nations League title, intensifying regional competition ahead of the Gold Cup.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT’S NEXT?

  The USMNT begins their Gold Cup campaign this summer, facing a group that includes Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, and Saudi Arabia. The tournament offers Pochettino an opportunity to evaluate players in competitive matches ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Mar-2016Captain Kane Williamson, though, first steadied the ship and then got stuck into his work along with Colin Munro•Getty Images/ICCMunro’s pyrotechnics and Williamson’s touch added 74 in quick time but both fell in quick succession•AFPCorey Anderson kept the runs coming with a quick 28 but England’s bowlers continued to chip away•IDI/GettyNew Zealand could only muster 20 in the last four overs, finishing with 153 as England’s death bowling came to the fore•Getty ImagesJason Roy gave England a brisk start, taking 16 runs off the first over•Getty ImagesRoy got stuck into New Zealand’s bowlers, reaching his fifty off 26 balls in the seventh over•IDI/Getty ImagesAlex Hales played the support role as the pair added 82 in 8.2 overs to set England up•Getty ImagesIsh Sodhi led a brief New Zealand fightback when he got the wicket of Roy and Eoin Morgan in the 13th over•IDI/Getty ImagesRoy was dismissed for 78 off 44 balls and his knock included 11 fours and two sixes•Getty ImagesJoe Root, though, held steady ensuring that England’s asking rate was in control•IDI/Getty ImagesJos Buttler smashed 23 runs off the last five balls to help England reach the target with 17 balls to spare and seal their berth in the final in Kolkata•IDI/Getty Images

Shadab Khan contributes with bat and ball to lead his side to consolation win

Danyal Rasool27-Mar-2023A much-improved batting performance and a typically clinical showing with the ball saw Pakistan avoid the ignominy of just a third T20I series whitewash, easing to victory over Afghanistan by 66 runs. Afghanistan were never in serious pursuit of the 182 Pakistan put up, crumbling to 116 all out in response.Afghanistan won the toss, meaning Pakistan had to bat first for the third successive game, and the visitors soon ran into trouble in Sharjah, just as they had in the previous two games. The spin of Mujeeb-ur Rehman and Mohammad Nabi got rid of Mohammad Haris and Tayyab Tahir, but Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique struck back with a counterattacking partnership that swung the momentum Pakistan’s way. The 20-ball 35-run stand set the template for Pakistan to continue attacking, with Saim, who fell just one short of a 50, forming the backbone for the best part of the innings.Iftikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan took over from there, going after each bowler as Afghanistan lost their discipline slightly. Seventy-four runs came off the final seven overs as Pakistan posted what was, by some distance, the highest total of the series.Any realistic prospects of a successful chase depended heavily on Rahmanullah Gurbaz and a fast start, but Imad Wasim, Zaman Khan and Ihsanullah ensured it wouldn’t be forthcoming. Debutant Sediqullah Atal limped to a 19-ball 11, while Ihsanullah cleaned up Gurbaz in the Powerplay. A brief stand between Mohammad Nabi and Usman Ghani aside, resistance was scarce, and once Ihsanullah returned, it was snuffed out. A wicket bouncer left Najibullah Zadran bleeding and retired hurt as Karim Janat was dismissed first ball, while a double-strike from Shadab – which included his 100th T20I wicket – ended any Afghan hopes for victory.Saim, Shafique take Afghanistan onWhen two wickets fell early, the pattern for another innings where Afghanistan stifled an inexperienced Pakistan batting line-up was set. But Saim, who has struggled this series, and Shafique who last scored a T20I run three years and five innings ago, opted for belligerence over caution. Saim clobbered Mujeeb over the on side to set the tone, while Shafique took on Fareed Ahmed in the final Powerplay over to propel Pakistan to 52, their highest six-over score of the series. Nabi received the same treatment from Shafique even after the Powerplay ended, and though Rashid Khan cleaned him up the following over, that brief passage of play had swung the contest Pakistan’s way. There was even time to spoil an unbeaten 17.5 over boundary-less stint from Rashid, when Saim deposited a full toss from the legspinner over cow corner.Shadab Khan’s golden day outShadab hasn’t had the best weekend, skippering Pakistan to their first international defeats against Afghanistan. Some of the captaincy decisions were questionable, and the call to bat first in the second game after Afghanistan had romped to an easy chase in the first drew considerable fire. It was all compounded by post-match remarks about missing Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan that can’t have helped their young top-order replacements feel too flash about themselves.But Monday brought one of those irresistible Shadab performances that throw into sharp relief what a phenomenal cricketer the he is. A valuable death-overs cameo that saw him smash a 17-ball 28 took Pakistan well above par on this surface, ensuring they carried the momentum with them at the changeover. He was equally impressive with ball in hand, too, there to strike the telling blows at different stages of the innings. Ibrahim Zadran was beaten in the flight in his first over, before a double-strike in his third put paid to Ghani and Mujeeb, giving him his 100th and 101st wickets in the process. His figures of 4-0-13-3 didn’t flatter him in the least.Ihsanullah brings the heatDifferent Pakistani fast bowler, same intimidating results. Ihsanullah hit the heights that have almost become second nature to him over the past six weeks, but a microcosm of all that he brings to this side was on display in a scintillating 11th over. His pace well into the high 140s kph and the asking rate rising, a suicidal run brought about the run-out of Nabi, with new man Najibullah entering on strike. By now, Ihsanullah had begun to favour a shorter length and a devilish first ball had the batter fending at one that deflected off the bat straight into the unprotected jawline. The blood gushed as Najibullah was forced off, needing a concussion substitute in Azmatullah Omarzai. But Ihsanullah wasn’t going to go soft. A similarly brutish delivery first up to Janat was spliced into the air for Haris to take a straightforward catch, before Rashid got out of the way of a 145kph bouncer. For now, it wasn’t about run-scoring, but basic self-preservation.

Reliable journalist John Percy has confirmed that Derby County have agreed a deal to sign Middlesbrough defender Matt Clarke, as well as holding talks for another signing.

Latest Derby news

The Rams’ disappointing run continued over the weekend, with Paul Warne’s side losing 2-1 away to Cardiff City, leaving them sitting in the Championship relegation zone.

It is now six defeats in a row for Derby in the league, leading to them plummeting down the table, with improvements badly needed sooner rather than later, in order to avoid a swift return to League One at the end of the campaign.

In terms of transfers, the Rams have been pushing to sign Oscar Fraulo during the January transfer window, with the 21-year-old midfielder currently at Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa youngster Lamare Bogarde has been linked with a loan move away from the Premier League club this month, with Derby thought to be one of the interested parties. Swansea City are also believed to be in the mix to bring in the defender on a temporary basis, as well as a number of unnamed clubs.

Journalist gives update on double Derby deal

Writing on X on Tuesday, Percy reported that Derby have agreed to sign Clarke and are also holding talks with his Middlesbrough teammate Dan Barlaser.

This is really exciting news for Rams supporters, who will know the importance of bringing in January reinforcements, allaying fears of relegation in the process. Clarke is an experienced head with a wealth of Championship experience, making 158 appearances in the competition, while Boro manager Michael Carrick has heaped praise on Barlaser in the past.

Appearances

19

Starts

11

Minutes played

1063

Goals

1

Assists

1

Key passes per game

1.2

Tackles per game

0.8

Pass completion rate

89.5%

While Clarke would bring nous and solidity at the back for Derby – he also knows the club well after his previous time there – Barlaser could be a great addition at the heart of the midfield, providing a combination of industry and quality.

Championship Table: Latest standings for the 2024/25 season

Latest English Football League Championship standings 2024/25.

ByStephan Georgiou Apr 22, 2025

The 28-year-old former EFL Trophy winner has chipped in with one goal and assist apiece in the Championship this season, while at international level in the past, he won two caps for England’s Under-18s. He has now proven himself at a good level for a sustained period, so signing him is a no-brainer.

Arsenal have been frustrated once again in their pursuit of a new striker this month, with the club unable to land any of their targets with just a couple of hours left in the window.

Mikel Arteta has constantly been on the hunt for a new talisman to try and aid the Gunners’ chances of catching Liverpool before the end of the season, ending their two-decade wait for a Premier League title.

However, the Spaniard has been unable to identify a player to lead the line, offering that focal point that Kai Havertz has often been unable to do in recent months – as seen with his glaring miss against Manchester City.

Undoubtedly, the supporters would be delighted if they could land a new forward before tonight’s deadline, but it makes sense not to force anything and just land a player for the sake of it.

However, they haven’t given up hope in landing one player after previously making their interest clear in landing the talent over the last couple of weeks.

Arsenal still interested in a late move for attacking star

According to The Independent, Arsenal are still considering another approach for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins on Monday evening after their first offer was rejected.

It was reported that the Gunners were interested in completing a deal at around the £40m mark, but Unai Emery’s men stood firm on their £60m valuation of the England international.

However, the report claims that the aforementioned fee could be enough to secure a late deal for the 29-year-old, with Villa close to PSR limits, which could aid Arsenal’s pursuit of Watkins.

Villa have lost Jhon Duran to Saudi in recent days, but deals for Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio have boosted their ranks – potentially opening the door for Arteta to make another bid for the lifelong Gunners supporter.

It could allow them to forget about another player who’s appeared on their shortlist in recent weeks, with the Englishman offering the club a better option than the youngster.

Why Watkins would be better than Sesko for Arsenal

Benjamin Sesko is a player who’s constantly been monitored by Arsenal over the last couple of years, but as of now, he remains an RB Leipzig player.

This month has been no different, with the Slovenian international once again appearing on the club’s shortlist as they searched for a new number nine.

However, the Bundesliga outfit were demanding a huge £67m for the 21-year-old, which would undoubtedly be a massive risk given his tender age and lack of Premier League experience.

It would be an addition which could set the club up for the long-term, but ultimately, given the time without a league title at the Emirates, immediate success is needed, with Watkins able to produce just that.

When comparing the Villa ace to Sesko for the 2024/25 campaign, he’s massively outperformed the RB Leipzig man in numerous key areas, showcasing why he’d be a better fit for the Gunners before tonight’s deadline.

Games played

24

19

Goals & assists

15

10

Shots on target

1.4

1.2

Pass accuracy

76%

70%

Shot-creating actions

2.1

1.7

Fouls won

1.4

0.5

Key passes completed

1.1

0.5

Watkins, who’s previously been dubbed “world-class” by broadcaster Jack Grimse, has registered more combined goals and assists than Sesko, whilst also registering more shots on target per 90 – highlighting his added clinical edge.

He’s also completed more of his attempted passes, registering more key passes per 90 – subsequently aiding other attackers in the final third and helping them improve their own goalscoring tallies.

The Englishman would be a better fit for the current possession-based philosophy in place at the Emirates, offering Arteta that immediate option to chase down Arne Slot’s side.

With time running out in the window, the Gunners will have to act quickly to make a move for the talisman, with his potential addition arguably the difference between a title fight or not come the end of the season.

Their answer to Tel: Arsenal preparing bid for Arteta's "superstar" target

Arsenal could make a move to land their own version of wanted man Mathys Tel.

1 ByEthan Lamb Feb 3, 2025

Nepal knocked out, even as Max O’Dowd fell for 90 in the 168 chase to miss out on his first ODI hundred

Ekanth24-Jun-2023

Logan van Beek finished with career-best figures•ICC/Getty Images

Netherlands progressed to the Super Sixes by bouncing Nepal’s batters, and later belting their bowlers in Harare. The loss knocks Nepal out of the World Cup Qualifiers, and also confirms West Indies and Zimbabwe’s progress into the next stage. Put in to bat in bowler-friendly conditions, Nepal folded for 167, unable to navigate a middle-overs crisis caused by Vikramjit Singh and furthered by Logan van Beek.Van Beek found movement in the air and off the seam early on. He had Aasif Sheikh chop on in the third over of Nepal’s innings, which brought Kushal Bhurtel and Bhim Sharki together and they fought their way through even if they didn’t always look in control. They miscued a lot of their horizontal bat shots.Bhurtel welcomed Vikramjit with a cut that went through cover for four and a punch through mid-on for three. But Vikramjit found his lengths to firstly dry up the runs, and then dismiss Bhurtel and Aarif Sheikh in the 15th and the 17th over, respectively. That started Nepal’s slump from 46 for 1 to 91 for 5, and they could not recover thereafter.Extra bounce and seam movement from Vikramjit accounted for Bhurtel (caught behind) and Aarif (caught at gully). Sharki, who saw out the new ball, started aiming for the boundary after Bhurtel’s wicket. He mistimed a hook, and almost cut Bas de Leede to the fielder. His luck ran out when he sliced Clayton Floyd’s first ball to point.Kushal Malla’s characteristic positivity led to the first six of the game when he slog swept Floyd over midwicket in the 21st over. But his aggression didn’t work against Aryan Dutt, who bowled back-to-back maidens and then got Malla to mistime a slog to long-off.Nepal captain Rohit Paudel pounced on Aryan in the 29th over, taking him for a six and a four. That led to van Beek’s return, and the full-fledged deployment of the short-ball tactic. Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee were out to the pull in the space of two overs.Despite Sandeep Lamichhane impulsively making room to open up gaps and Gulsan Jha working the ball around to build a steady 32-run stand for the eighth wicket and thus give Nepal some respectability, it was only a matter of time till the bouncers fetched Netherlands wickets. This time it was de Leede, who got Jha and Karan KC in the 42nd over. Lamichhane got a couple of streaky boundaries before also succumbing to the pull. He was the last man out; Nepal’s innings closed out with 33 balls to spare.Max O’Dowd started the modest chase with a clear plan: get across the line and hit the spinners to the leg side. He swept and pulled Lalit Rajbanshi, Lamichhane, and Airee to end the first powerplay with Netherlands up to 58 without loss.Vikramjit offered steady support at the other end, and by the time Lamichhane trapped him lbw in the 13th over, Netherlands had already broken the back of the chase with an 86-run opening stand.Two overs later, Lamichhane having Wesley Barresi out reverse sweeping to short third led to a minor slowdown. But new batter de Leede settled in thereafter, and combined with O’Dowd to rotate strike and find regular boundaries to take Netherlands close.With ten runs left to win, O’Dowd was knocked over for 90 by Jha. Despite O’Dowd missing out on what would have been a match-winning first ODI century, Netherlands had no trouble powering through to a seven-wicket win with as many as 137 balls remaining.

Manchester City are used to being the Premier League’s top scorers, but this season’s poor form has seen Pep Guardiola’s side rank joint third for goals scored after 22 games played, scoring 44 goals.

The Citizens are averaging 61.4% possession which is the highest in the division, taking 17.3 shots per game on average which ranks them second in the league.

Of their 44 goals scored, Erling Haaland has scored 17 of them, also providing one assist in his 22 Premier League appearances.

Phil Foden has started to chip in with some goals in recent weeks, but some extra attacking additions could help City in the second half of the season.

Manchester City looking at one of Europe's best

According to reports from Spain, Manchester City are willing to make an offer for Barcelona forward, Raphinha, in the summer.

The report suggests City are prepared to offer a huge £84m to bring the Brazilian to the club and strengthen their attacking options.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The 27-year-old has gone up a level since working under Hansi Flick, playing mostly as a left-winger, often being the outlet for that Barcelona side, which has seen his output skyrocket this campaign. Raphinha can also play through the middle and on the right-wing, offering versatility.

Raphinha has made 30 appearances for Barcelona so far this season, scoring 22 goals and providing 11 assists.

How Raphinha compares to Omar Marmoush

Much like Raphinha, Manchester City’s new forward, Omar Marmoush, can play a variety of positions, often playing in a front two for Frankfurt this season, but also having the capacity to play on the left-wing if needed, and deeper behind the striker in an attacking midfield position.

Marmoush has made 26 appearances in all competitions for Frankfurt this season, scoring an enormous 20 goals and supplying 14 assists.

As a result, the 25-year-old looks like a clear replacement for Julian Alvarez who left in the summer, bringing a versatile forward to the club who can work around and alongside Haaland in attacking areas to share the goals.

Goals

0.80

0.87

Assists

0.33

0.57

xG

0.63

0.64

xAG

0.47

0.34

Progressive Carries

3.61

4.17

Progressive Passes

5.26

3.06

Shots Total

3.87

4.41

Shots/Goal

0.20

0.16

Key Passes

3.37

2.43

Shot-Creating Actions

5.98

5.97

When comparing the two players’ metrics, you can see both offer a huge goal threat, scoring higher goals per 90, and both generating 0.63 and 0.64 xG respectively. Both players rank close to four shots per 90, adding extra shot volume around Haaland, which could also allow the Norwegian to pick up some easier goals from rebounds/second balls.

Raphinha has been described as “one of the best in the world” by Barcelona legend, Romario, stating “he will give us very special things in football”. Therefore, alongside the likes of Marmoush and Haaland, Raphinha would offer a more direct wide runner in behind, offering a clinical finisher from wide areas, which could then potentially further open those spaces inside for others to operate.

Guardiola adding not one, but two players who have superb ball-striking, finishing and box instincts, could take the burden off of Haaland, spreading the goals out more and allowing the entire system to operate in a more calm and controlled manner.

A big upgrade on Doku: Man City chasing move for "electric" £85m star

Manchester City’s spending spree this January is showing little sign of slowing down, so could the Sky Blues swoop for a young English talent?

Jan 21, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

da realbet： Com gols, comemorações e recordes, Germán Cano conquistou a torcida do Fluminense com uma temporada mágica. Desde que chegou ao clube, o argentino se tornou protagonista e ajudou a equipe a carimbar a vaga na fase de grupos da Libertadores 2023. Em entrevista coletiva, o jogador falou sobre a possível renovação com o Tricolor(contrato se encerra em dezembro de 2023).

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da apostaganha： – Eu acho que não preciso falar. Todo mundo sabe o que o Fluminense representa para mim. Estou muito feliz aqui. Temos conversas, mas ainda não fechamos. Espero ficar aqui muito tempo mais, desfrutando o presente – disse.

+ Confira e simule a tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro

Com a vaga garantida, o Fluminense tem masi três jogos para o fim do Brasileirão e pretende bater a meta de premiações prevista no início da temporada. Artilheiro da competição com 21 gols, o atleta argentino frisou que a equipe seguirá com a mesma seriedade e buscará três vitórias nas rodadas que restam.

– Acho que manter esta mesma seriedade que jogamos. Saber respeitar nosso rival vai ser muito importante. Temos que saber que serão confrontos difíceis, contra jogadores muito bons. Queremos fechar com três vitórias nossas, já pensando no próximo ano, que será muito bom para nós – pontuou.

+Fluminense aguarda decisão do TRE-RJ para oficializar data da eleição; Rolim rejeita sugestão de Arrais

Na última segunda, Cano igualou Magno Alves como o maior artilheiro do Fluminense em uma mesma temporada neste século. O camisa 14 também empatou com Aristizábal e se tornou o maior artilheiro gringo em uma edição da competição desde que ela começou a ser disputada nos formato de pontos corridos.

Além disso, também igualou Doval como maior artilheiro estrangeiro do Fluminense em um mesmo ano. E tem mais três partidas para ultrapassar o Magnata epode quebrar tabu de 50 anos sem um artilheiro estrangeiro no Brasileirão. O último foi o uruguaioPedro Rocha, que anotou 17 gols com a camisa do São Paulo e dividiu o prêmio com Dadá Maravilha, do Atlético-MG.

+Fluminense efetua pagamento dos salários de outubro e segue em dia com jogadores e funcionários

– Sem os meus companheiros eu não consigo fazer tudo que estou fazendo dentro de campo. Sem a ajuda deles é muito difícil. Eu quero parabenizar eles. Dentro de campo, tudo fica mais fácil, porque a bola chega. A toda hora estão procurando um momento dentro da área, onde estou ficando. Isto é companheirismo, é ser solidário. Acho que se formou um grupo legal para continuar fazendo história e na briga para o próximo ano – concluiu.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have been warned that Wrexham's squad will need a "massive overhaul" in order to "compete" in the Championship.

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Red Dragons have enjoyed meteoric riseNeed to freshen up in summer windowHollywood co-owners funding projectFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Red Dragons are on their way to the second tier after securing a record-breaking third successive promotion. Certain members of Phil Parkinson’s squad – such as Paul Mullin and Elliot Lee – have enjoyed that entire ride from the National League.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Additions have been made along the way, with transfer records being broken, and more money will be spent in the summer of 2025. Arrivals and departures are expected, with there no room for sentiment in North Wales.

DID YOU KNOW?

A serious freshening up of the ranks may be required, while chasing the Premier League dream, with the Championship a notoriously difficult division that even the most ambitious of outfits have struggled to conquer down the years.

GettyWHAT EFL PUNDIT SAID

Former EFL star turned pundit Don Goodman has told : "The first thing to do is to pay homage to Phil Parkinson and Wrexham. Because, honestly, hand on heart, I didn't think they'd be able to bridge the gap between League Two and be automatically promoted.

"I honestly thought a top-half finish would have been a roaring success. For them to finish second behind a very impressive Birmingham is an unbelievable achievement. However, I don't think it's going to be as straightforward [in the Championship]. I think that squad will need a massive overhaul if Wrexham are going to compete.

"Ipswich are the outlier, obviously, back-to-back promotions. But, when you look at the three teams who've come up from last season – Portsmouth, Oxford and Derby County – they've all had relegation issues and, of course, Derby still do.

"The season before, Plymouth, who have now gone and Sheffield Wednesday, who came up along with Ipswich, had a real relegation scrap. I do think it's a big gap, and it won't be easy to bridge. The question is, can he [Parkinson] make the step-up into the Championship with ease? I would say, it won't be easy."