Ryan Reynolds’ Wrexham remarkably told they ‘should sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Chris Wood’

Wrexham, backed by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, have been tipped to make an unlikely move to lure four-times Champions League winner Zlatan Ibrahimovic out of retirement

Wrexham’s Hollywood owners have remarkably been urged to try and lure Zlatan Ibrahimovic out of retirement. Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have not been afraid to spend big since buying the Welsh club in 2021.

However, enticing the four-times Champions League winner back into football might be a stretch even for two A-listers. Ibrahimovic starred for some of the biggest teams in the world during his career, including Manchester United, Barcelona and Inter Milan.

The Swedish forward scored more than 570 goals for club and country before hanging his boots up in June 2023, and has since become a senior adviser to AC Milan. But former Premier League striker Matt Jansen, who enjoyed a short stint with Wrexham in 2009, thinks his old club have the financial pulling power to tempt the 43-year-old to reconsider his position.

The ex-Blackburn player also suggested a forward in the mould of Chris Wood might fit Phil Parkinson’s side.

“It would probably suit Zlatan Ibrahimovic, although he retired,” Jansen told FruityKing. “But money talks and they’ve certainly got it. It would be Hollywood and he’d enjoy it, wouldn’t he?

“But it would certainly be that type, or a big target man like Chris Wood maybe, although he’s not going to leave Nottingham Forest. It would all depend on whether they could get the signings that they would need to challenge and whether those players would suit.”

Wrexham already spent more than £2million on new strikers in the January transfer window after signing Sam Smith from Reading and Jay Rodriguez from Burnley. The pair have scored seven goals between them in League One so far, with their team on the cusp of a potential third successive promotion to the Championship.

Birmingham City, part-owned by NFL legend Tom Brady, look certain to secure top spot in the third tier, with Wrexham currently in second, six points ahead of rivals Wycombe Wanderers in third. When asked which club would be most likely to possibly reach the Premier League next season, Jansen said Birmingham would be better prepared.

He said: “Anything’s possible with Wrexham and they’ve got the backing. With the media around them, they’ve got the idea of what they want to do. I think back-to-back would be too soon. They will probably try to consolidate first and build on that with more signings, spending more money.

“Look at the three coming down, the Premier League is tougher now for teams going up. But then Nottingham Forest have done it. I thought they’d struggle this season, but they’re looking like they should get Champions League football.

“You can never say never, but it will be a real big ask. If I was going to choose anybody to go back-to-back, it would be Birmingham. I think they’re a Championship side right now and if they spend wisely, they’ll be stronger.”

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