With Hollywood duo Birmingham City and Wrexham targeting Premier League stars in pursuit of promotion from the Championship, we have done them the favour of picking one star per top-flight club for them to sign this summer…
Arsenal: Reiss Nelson
It was slim pickings at Arsenal, with Albert Sambi Lokonga perhaps the only alternative to Nelson after both players had uninspiring loan spells at Sevilla and Fulham in 2024/25 respectively.
Nelson, having missed half of the campaign with a hamstring injury, only made 11 Premier League appearances for the Cottagers in 24/25 and desperately needs to get his career back on track. A return to Europe is perhaps the next step, though a move to Birmingham, who should be a serious title contender, to play against weaker opposition could do the 25-year-old’s confidence the world of good.
Aston Villa: Ross Barkley
The former England international was an astute signing for the Villans after his return to prominence at relegated Luton Town, as he added necessary competition to Unai Emery’s squad ahead of their Champions League campaign.
The 31-year-old is hardly indispensable after only making three Premier League starts in 2024/25. He is also entering the stage of his career when money talks with his next move, and he would be a leading star for Birmingham or Wrexham.
Bournemouth: Adam Smith
The 34-year-old has been a great servant for the Cherries, making 360 appearances dating back to their pre-Premier League days in 2014.
Smith has certainly proven himself in the Premier League but is on the brink of being cast aside for a new and shinier upgrade in Julian Araujo, who is primed for a breakout year in 2025/26 after having his debut season derailed by injury.
Still, the elder statesman hasn’t declined too much and would be a very strong asset in the Championship.
Carvalho has bundles of ability and potential, but his spell at Brentford is yet to get off the ground and it would not be surprising were he to leave – at least on loan – this summer. He tore it up at Hull City at the end of the 2023/24 campaign and would shine brighter as a big fish for Birmingham and/or Wrexham.
Brighton: James Milner
Milner in Welcome to Wrexham would be box-office television…
With Paul Mullin leaving, the documentary series needs a new star and that spot has Boring Milner’s name written all over it. Besides this, the uber professional former Liverpool and Man City star would get significantly more game time at these clubs than Brighton and this is what he deserves for the final year or two of his extraordinary career.
Content continues below
Burnley: Ashley Barnes
If you’ve followed Wrexham’s transfer business in recent seasons, you’ll be well aware that they love a striker signing. They hoarded the best forwards in League One last campaign and could do the same this term, starting with Barnes.
The 35-year-old returned to Burnley in January for a final nostalgia run at Turf Moor, but he’ll barely feature in the Premier League and would be the perfect fit for Phil Parkinson’s side in their route one approach.
Chelsea: Raheem Sterling
“Wrexham would have to offer him a great package to convince him to sign. It would be interesting to see, but Ryan Reynolds would have to get the chequebook out.”
These were the words of Emmanuel Petit on Sterling in April this year. It says a lot about the extremity of the winger’s decline that a move to Wrexham is even an apparent talking point, but he could be forced to give it serious consideration as his days in the Premier League could be over after his non-event of a loan at Arsenal.
