Ryan Reynolds to swoop for Arsenal star as Wrexham start League 1 transfer plans

Wrexham are actively considering a significant move - the permanent signing of Arthur Okonkwo from Arsenal.

The potential transfer indicates The Red Dragons' determination as they prepare for their promotion to League One in the English football pyramid. Wrexham were promoted to League One on Saturday, making their first return to the division since 2005.

On loan from the Gunners since September, the 22-year-old goalkeeper has had an outstanding season with Wrexham. He's secured a place in EFL League Two's Team of the Season for his contributions, particularly his 13 clean sheets.

Okonkwo's exceptional ball-stopping skills have been instrumental in Wrexham's success. His impressive performances in 34 out of 44 matches and a 78.4 save percentage have contributed to the team's second-place standing in the League Two table.

One of Okonkwo's standout moments this season occurred during a 6-0 victory over Forest Green Rovers, during which he kept a clean sheet as the team secured promotion. In jubilation, Wrexham fans stormed the pitch, celebrating the historic win that marked back-to-back promotion seasons under the leadership of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

Okonkwo's Arsenal contract expires in the summer, making him a free agent. The Sun reported that Wrexham would attempt to make the loan deal permanent. He is expected to attract significant interest from promising European clubs, similar to the attention he received during loan spells with Crewe Alexandra and Sturm Graz.

Wrexham previously expressed the challenges of securing their player, but their excitement was palpable upon his arrival. A social media announcement heralding Okonkwo was met with enthusiastic celebration from the Wrexham fan base as team manager Phil Parkinson detailed how important the young keeper is to the club.

"When Fozzy retired, we spoke to Arsenal and Arthur's agent," Parkinson told reporters. "We only had about ten days until the transfer window closed, and Arthur was very high on the list, but we didn't think it was going to be possible because he was potentially moving to Europe."

After exploring other options, Wrexham re-engaged with Arsenal to pursue Okonkwo. Parkinson took the initiative, arranging a Zoom call with the player's agent. This was followed up by a conversation between goalkeeping coach Aidan Davison, Okonkwo, and his agent the next morning.

According to reports in Nigeria, Okonkwo's performances have attracted the attention of the country's national team despite his representation at youth levels for England. The team's technical director, Augustine Eguavoen, was said to monitor the goalkeeper's progress for a potential call-up to the national team at the senior level.

His Nigerian heritage renders him eligible to play for the team, and according to TransferMarkt, he holds the top rank among Wrexham players and League Two players in terms of projected value.

Okonkwo's permanent move to Wrexham is said to depend on a host of personal factors, including game time and wages. Sports Bible reported that despite his massive season, the Red Dragons have yet to officially officially offer the 22-year-old a contract.