"We've got a reputation" - Wrexham AFC wages issue laid bare amid Aaron Cresswell transfer links | OneFootball

FLW's Wrexham fan pundit feels that the club should be looking elsewhere for defensive reinforcements

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Wrexham are looking to make a splash in the summer transfer window in order to ensure that their first season in the second tier since the early 1980s isn't short-lived.

Phil Parkinson hasn't shied away from bringing in veteran heads who perhaps could still do a serviceable job in a higher division, shown through the past arrivals of Steven Fletcher and Jay Rodriguez when the club were in League One, for example.

Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the Red Dragons are putting their name in the hat to sign Aaron Cresswell, according to Alan Nixon, who ended his 11-year stint at West Ham in the final game of the Premier League season against his former club, Ipswich Town.

The 35-year-old has over 300 Premier League appearances, and a further 132 in the Championship too. Evidently, he would bring a wealth of experience to a Wrexham side ready to embark on a season in the second division.

Wrexham told to aim for younger signings amid Aaron Cresswell links

However, FLW's Wrexham fan pundit, Liam Grice, believes that his club should be targeting other options in defence this summer.

Grice doesn't doubt the amount of experience that Aaron Cresswell would bring to Wrexham, but he believes that the Red Dragons can target younger, and better, players this coming summer.

"He's a player with good experience and played at the top level last year, so on that end I wouldn't mind him," Liam told FLW.

"But he's 35, his wages are going to be among some of the highest in the squad, and I'm not sure whether that's who Wrexham need to be targeting.

"We should be going for younger players with more potential rather than these ageing players, but there's no doubt he'd bring invaluable experience."

Grice acknowledges the need for experience in the squad, and knows that they are the type of players who Phil Parkinson wants to target. Given Cresswell is from Liverpool, a move to Wrexham could prove more beneficial to him, too.

"We've got a reputation for signing these players, and we all know Parkinson wants international experience in the squad, but I'm not necessarily sure he's the right type of signing for Wrexham," Grice concluded.

Aaron Cresswell's estimated West Ham 2024/25 salary as potential Wrexham wage issues arise

Per Capology, Aaron Cresswell earned an estimated £50,000 per week at West Ham last season. Whilst that ranks towards the lower end of the Hammers squad, a wage that high in the Championship will immediately rank him among the top-five earners in the division.

Now, that's not to say that Cresswell will be demanding a wage similar to what he was under in the Premier League if he were to drop into the Championship, but the likelihood is that Wrexham would need to pay him a lot more than they do anyone else in the squad, if he were to sign.

Also, according to Capology, the Red Dragons had the third-highest payroll in League One last season with £205,200 per week being spent on players' wages, so Phil Parkinson's side aren't strangers to upping the amount they pay players significantly to adapt to a higher level, but a jump that drastic may be a step too far.

With Leeds United also showing interest, perhaps a more lucrative deal to stay in the Premier League will attract Cresswell more than what Wrexham would be willing to spend, although if he were to move to Elland Road, the likelihood is that the left-footer would be a backup option.