Wrexham have been backed to proceed their fairy tale stand up the EFL by reaching the Championship play-offs this season.
The Red Dragons are one division away from the Premier League having secured an unprecedented three-straight promotions.
Since being taken over by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, they’ve well and truly brought Hollywood to Wales.
Wrexham are preparing for all times within the second tier for the primary time because the 1981/82 season after ending runners-up in League One.
The Welsh outfit have been busy within the transfer market this summer, having broken their club record twice already, they usually’re closing in on doing it again, with Ipswich’s Nathan Broadhead set to sign for a whopping £7.5million.
Phil Parkinson has recruited seven latest faces, having splashed around £10m thus far, while 12 players have been shown the exit door.
Wrexham, who get their campaign underway against Southampton this weekend, live to tell the tale talkSPORT, have been predicted to be embroiled in a relegation battle by a Championship supercomputer.
Thankfully for fans, there isn’t any AI substitute for our 4 best EFL presenters – none of whom are backing the club to be near the drop.
Three of the pack haven’t ruled out a historic fourth promotion, with a backdoor route through the play-offs proving particularly popular.
Former Arsenal man Adrian Clarke, who played at every level from the top-flight to the Conference South, former Championship superstar Darren Ambrose, the vastly experienced 18-club striker Chris Iwelumo, and talkSPORT’s encyclopaedic commentator Ian Danter have assessed the state of play for Wrexham this season.
Will Wrexham get promoted this season?
Danter: “Potentially. Their run up to now has been quite outstanding, they usually’ve got a lot name quality throughout the squad.
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“In Ryan Barnett, they’ve got among the best crossers of the ball, and the acquisition of players like Lewis O’Brien is actually exciting.”
Clarke: “Eventually, they will, but this season? I feel it’s definitely a yr too early.
“They’ve made a lot progress in a brief space of time, but I just don’t think their current squad has enough Championship quality.
“Their sort of play will make them difficult to play against, but I don’t think it’s going to be as effective because it was in League One and Two.”
Ambrose: “All I’d say is – don’t rule it out. We all know what form of club it’s; it’s a Hollywood club, they usually’ve had some improbable times over time.
“That is going to be their biggest challenge yet, but I’ve played under Phil Parkinson, and he’s a really driven individual who desires to succeed.”
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Will Wrexham reach the Championship play-offs?
Danter: “It won’t be straightforward in any respect, but I see play-offs, if not automatic promotion.”
Clarke: “For me, they must be targeting a mid-table finish.”
Ambrose: “I can see them making the play-offs, and in the event that they get there, who knows? I’m really looking forward to seeing them this season.”
Iwelumo: “I do know Phil Parkinson very, thoroughly. He has six promotions in his managerial profession thus far, and I feel he’s got the precise temperament to get the very best out of those players.
“They’ve recruited well and brought in some excellent Championship players, but they’ve already got excellent players there too, which I feel will go a large way.
“It’s going to be a tough challenge, but in the event that they do go up, it should be through the play-offs, in my view.”
Wrexham are 7/1 favourites to win Championship promotion, while they’re 5/2 to secure a top-six finish with talkSPORT BET.
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Who’ve Wrexham signed already?
Wrexham are using their Hollywood pull to have an actual go at competing within the Championship this season.
They’ve already brought in Liberato Cacace and Lewis O’Brien, with each deals breaking their old transfer record.
Ex-Nottingham Forest midfielder, O’Brien, cost slightly below £3m, with Cacace joining from Serie A in a deal price around £4m.
Wrexham’s latest moves have seen Conor Coady leave Leicester and Kieffer Moore join from Sheffield United in deals price £2million each.
George Thomason has arrived from Bolton for over £1m too, following striker Ryan Hardie through the door.
On top of that, a few free transfers have been scooped up, seeing Josh Windass and Danny Ward join the club.