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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Wrexham monitoring Bannan</li><li>Owls captain nearly out of contract</li><li>Armstrong &amp; Ward also of interest</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

Wrexham target Championship club captain once compared to Andres Iniesta as Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney continue drive towards Premier League

<p>Accrding to <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/35414953/ryan-reynolds-rob-mcelhenney-efl-sheffield-wednesday/" target="_blank"><em>The Sun</em></a>, Wrexham are keen on Bannan, who is only two weeks from the end of his Sheffield Wednesday contract. The Owls have also been struggling financially, not able to pay players for the past two weeks, which is advantageous for Wrexham given the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/wrexham-summer-transfer-war-chest-revealed-ryan-reynolds-rob-mcelhenney-spend-big-premier-league-dream-reality/blt0ee45f114c1b21c7" target="_blank">budget made available by co-owners Ryan and Rob McElhenney</a>.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Wrexham's march from non-league to the Championship has been underpinned at each step by big name veterans like Ben Foster, James McClean, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/rob-mcelhenney-ryan-reynolds-emotional-wrexham-decision-phil-parkinson-axes-striker-from-squad/blt1930dbdf5e99859c" target="_blank">Steven Fletcher</a> and <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/jay-rodriguez-wrexham-phil-parkinson-play-off-contenders-stockport-automatic-promotion-hopes-birmingham/blt3d65eabc800ff2a1" target="_blank">Jay Rodriguez</a>. Bannan, who was likened by legendary coach Gerard Houllier to Barcelona icon Andres Iniesta as he was breaking through at Aston Villa in 2010, would be a continuation of that tried and tested pattern in pursuit of promotion to the Premier League.</p><p>The 35-year-old former Scotland international has spent the majority of his career in the Championship, having first joined Sheffield Wednesday in 2015. During that time, he helped the club to the Championship pplay-off final, 90 minutes from reaching the Premier League, and has helped them reconsolidate in the second tier since relegation and promotion in 2021 and 2023 respectively.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Wrexham's interest in Championship-calibre players doesn't stop there. The same report from <em>The Sun </em>notes that Stuart Armstrong, currently a free agent after leaving Sheffield Wednesday and formerly also a Premier League player with Southampton is of interest. Another target is goalkeeper Danny Ward, who came through the ranks at Wrexham before his career took him to Liverpool and Leicester City, among others.</p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>Getting Bannan to north Wales might not be that straightforward, even with his contract ending and Sheffield Wednesday in the position they are. He is something of a modern day legend at Hillsborough and <a href="https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-wednesday/barry-bannan-sheffield-wednesday-contract-5177630?__hstc=231735616.87e8728e1ed7595544d07430ea7bb97b.1750095092355.1750095092355.1750095092355.1&amp;__hssc=231735616.1.1750095092356&amp;__hsfp=1322859778" target="_blank"><em>The Star</em></a>, the city's local newspaper, has reported that he'd actually like to stay - the suggestion is that a fresh deal has already been agreed in principle. And, even though he has family ties to Wrexham through his grandfather, a former player in the 1950s, Bannan wants to commmit to Wednesday.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

Wrexham target Championship club captain once compared to Andres Iniesta as Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney continue drive towards Premier League | Goal.com

Wrexham are keeping tabs on proven Championship midfielder Barry Bannan as they prepare to play at their highest level since the Hollywood takeover.