Wrexham look set to add some star quality to their ranks this summer and Phil Parkinson could even welcome some current and former internationals into his ranks.
Wrexham have been promoted to the Championship after another stellar season under Phil Parkinson, finishing 2nd in the League One table and with a five point lead over 3rd place Stockport County in the end.
It certainly wasn’t plain sailing for the Dragons who actually dropped down to 3rd with just a few games left to play. But it’s a third-straight promotion for Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s side, and now the real fun can begin.
The summer transfer window opens on June 1st and Wrexham have a growing number of transfer targets. There’s some prestigious name being linked with a move to the Racecourse too, showing just how far the club has come in the last few years.
Among those linked is Aaron Cresswell.
Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images
Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images
Aaron Cresswell’s career so far amid Wrexham transfer links
It’s been claimed that Wrexham are showing an interest in Cresswell, 35, who’s being released by West Ham this summer after a successful 11-year stint with the club, following his 2014 move from Ipswich Town.
The Hammers paid little over £2million to sign Cresswell who eventually racked up 365 appearances for the Hammers, winning two Player of the Season awards along the way as well as the Conference League in 2023.
Cresswell, a left centre-back or a left-back, has made 583 career appearances across spells with Tranmere Rovers, Ipswich and West Ham, with three caps to England to his name too, coming between 216 and 2017.
Man City and Chelsea were once linked with Aaron Cresswell
Cresswell has enjoyed a fantastic career to date: lifting European silverware, making so many appearances for a club the size of West Ham, and even representing his country. But it could all have been very different for Cresswell who was at one time linked with both Chelsea and Man City.
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Back in 2015, reports at the times said that Man City and Chelsea were both keeping tabs on Cresswell following what was a whirlwind first season with West Ham. Then Hammers boss Sam Allardyce said at the time: “As far as I am concerned, no one has bid for Aaron Cresswell. It’s all pure rumours and speculation. My problem is: Does it affect Aaron Cresswell and affect his performance?”
It didn’t impact on his performances as Cresswell went on to become a club legend in East London.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
What managers have said about Aaron Cresswell in the past
Big Sam is certainly a fan of Cresswell’s. Speaking after a 1-0 win over Newcastle United back in 2014, the former Hammers boss said: “I want to give a huge amount of credit to Aaron Cresswell who was superb on Saturday. His finish was excellent and to be in that position in the first place shows his intent and desire to get forward. He never gives up and his energy and commitment is second to none.
“Aaron’s progress through the Football League has helped him become the player he is. His game record is absolutely phenomenal as he’s played about 40 odd games a season for three years. So that has helped him no end.”
And David Moyes is also a big admirer. He said of the Englishman back in 2020: “This is the second time I’ve been here with Cress and on both occasions, he’s been really valuable. More importantly, he’s calm, he’s consistent and he plays regularly which is important in modern football.
“I think he’s found a role he’s comfortable with too, playing as a left centre-back, but he’s also more than capable of playing at left-back, and that’s what he is really.”
For Parkinson, Cresswell certainly fits the type of persona, and the level of professionalism that he wants in his Wrexham dressing room. But tempting him down to the Championship whilst the likes of Leeds United are also interested could prove difficult, and costly too.