Wrexham have enjoyed a busy January transfer window after the club's Hollywood owners sanctioned some huge signings. Manager Phil Parkinson has brought in three new faces thanks to the financial backing of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The League One outfit's hierarchy took action after a few disappointing results, including defeats against Stevenage, Shrewsbury Town and Barnsley. Wrexham missed out on some targets, such as Sheffield Wednesday striker Michael Smith, who opted to stay at Hillsborough, and Sunderland-bound Liverpool loanee Jayden Danns. The club also said goodbye to two members of its back-to-back promotion-winning team: midfielder James Jones, who left to join Burton Albion, and wing-back Anthony Forde, whose contract was terminated by mutual consent.

However, it was a successful window for the Red Dragons overall as they managed to make key improvements in attack after struggling for goals this season. Here, Mirror Football looks at the three crucial deals the Welsh side pulled off, including splashing out on an ex-Manchester United starlet and a player who once snubbed Liverpool and Arsenal. The first new arrival at the Racecourse in January was Ryan Longman from Hull City. The fee paid for the 24-year-old was not disclosed, but is believed to be in the region of £500,000.

Wrexham beat off competition from Championship side Oxford United to tie the former Brighton man down until the end of the 2026/27 season, with the option of an additional year. Parkinson was first said to be interested in signing Longman last summer off the back of an impressive loan spell at Millwall, with whom he helped retain their second-tier status by registering three goals and another three assists.

He missed a sizeable chunk of the start of the 2024-25 campaign through injury, but boasts over 100 Championship appearances to his name. Longman's Wrexham debut came as a second-half substitute in their 3-2 home defeat to Stevenage. His second cameo was more enjoyable as he provided the all-important assist for Elliot Lee's dramatic 95th-minute winner against Crawley Town on Saturday. Parkinson's next move was to bring in Reading's top scorer Sam Smith for a reported club-record fee of £2million. The 26-year-old striker penned a three-and-a-half-year deal with Wrexham after scoring 11 goals in 26 appearances for the Royals this season.

Smith has a strong pedigree in the game after initially coming through Manchester United's academy, alongside the likes of Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay. The links to Old Trafford don't end there, as he was later managed at the start of his senior career at Reading by ex-United defender Jaap Stam. Smith made his bow for Wrexham during Saturday's 2-1 win away at Crawley. While he did not net on his debut, he came close after having a decent effort saved in the first half.

Following hot on the heels of Smith's arrival was Burnley striker Jay Rodriguez. The 35-year-old, who has 258 Premier League appearances under his belt, finalised a switch to North Wales after being offered a financial deal worth £15,000 per week, according to the Daily Telegraph. Rodriguez once sparked a bidding war during his time at Southampton, with Liverpool, Tottenham, and Arsenal all reportedly keen on securing his signature in 2015. He ultimately chose to stay at St Mary's after agreeing to a new four-year deal.

Explaining his reasoning at the time, Rodriguez told the Daily Express: "The season we've had has been really good, and I think, obviously, the loyalty that they've put into me to offer me a new contract means a lot to me, and it was just something I wanted to do.". The striker also made his Wrexham debut against Crawley but was unable to bag a goal in his first appearance. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.