Hollywood-backed Welsh club leads race for England international midfielder as Leicester's financial crisis deepens
Wrexham are leading the race to sign Leicester City midfielder Harry Winks, with the former Premier League champions desperate to offload the £90,000-per-week player as they stare down a catastrophic relegation to League One.
The potential transfer represents one of the most extraordinary role reversals in modern English football. Just eight years after Leicester stunned the world by winning the Premier League title, they now face the humiliation of dropping into the third tier while being forced to sell England internationals to League One clubs.
Leicester's spectacular fall from grace has created a perfect storm of financial desperation. The Foxes currently sit in the Championship relegation zone, facing the unthinkable prospect of back-to-back relegations that would see them playing in League One next season.
At the heart of Leicester's problems lies an unsustainable wage structure. Harry Winks is reportedly the highest earner in the entire Championship, collecting his Premier League-level salary while the club operates on second-tier revenues.
The midfielder joined Leicester in a £10 million move from Tottenham in 2023, signing what seemed a reasonable contract for a club expecting to bounce straight back to the Premier League. Instead, Leicester have plummeted further, and Winks' wages have become an albatross around their neck.
Despite his pedigree, Winks has been completely frozen out of Leicester's first team in recent months. Manager decisions have left the 28-year-old watching from the sidelines as younger, cheaper alternatives take his place in midfield.
For Leicester, offloading Winks isn't merely a tactical decision. It's an absolute financial necessity as they prepare for the possibility of League One football and its drastically reduced income streams.
While most Championship clubs would baulk at Winks' wage demands, Wrexham operate in a different financial reality thanks to their Hollywood ownership.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have transformed Wrexham from a struggling non-league outfit into one of English football's most ambitious projects. Their investment has already powered the Welsh club through two promotions in three seasons.
Unlike traditional Championship clubs constrained by Financial Fair Play regulations and modest revenues, Wrexham have shown a willingness to spend big on statement signings. Their wage structure already exceeds what most League One clubs can afford, positioning them perfectly to absorb a player of Winks' calibre and salary expectations.
Wrexham's interest in Winks comes at a crucial juncture. Phil Parkinson's side have recently slipped off the Championship play-off pace after chasing an unprecedented fourth consecutive promotion.
The club's hierarchy are drawing up contingency plans for another season in the Championship. Landing an England international would represent their biggest statement of intent yet, signalling to fans, rivals and potential future signings that Wrexham mean business at this level.
Despite his recent Leicester struggles, Winks remains a player with genuine top-flight quality and international pedigree.
The midfielder brings a CV that few Championship players can match:
For a Wrexham side learning to compete at Championship level, Winks would provide the kind of composure and game management that separates promotion contenders from mid-table sides.
Parkinson typically deploys a possession-based system that would suit Winks' strengths perfectly. The midfielder's ability to dictate tempo, break lines with his passing, and maintain defensive discipline would transform Wrexham's midfield.
Leicester are prepared to sanction a sale this summer as part of their financial restructuring
With Leicester reportedly willing to accept significantly less than their original £10 million investment, Wrexham could secure a player who should be playing Premier League football for a fraction of his true market value.
The summer transfer window will reveal whether this ambitious move materialises. Leicester's final league position will heavily influence their desperation to sell, with League One relegation making Winks' departure almost inevitable.
For Wrexham, signing Winks would represent their clearest signal yet that the Hollywood fairytale has genuine Premier League ambitions. In a football landscape where Leicester can fall from champions to League One in eight years, perhaps it's not so outlandish to imagine Wrexham making the opposite journey.
Harry Winks currently earns £90,000 per week at Leicester City, making him reportedly the highest-paid player in the Championship. His Premier League-level wages have become unsustainable for Leicester following their relegation.
Wrexham can afford Winks' £90,000 weekly salary due to their Hollywood ownership under Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Unlike traditional clubs, they operate with significant financial backing and have shown willingness to make statement signings.
Leicester City currently face potential relegation to League One from the Championship. This would represent back-to-back relegations for the former Premier League champions, dropping them into England's third tier.
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Harry Winks joined Leicester City in 2023 from Tottenham Hotspur in a £10 million transfer. He signed expecting the club to return to the Premier League, but Leicester have instead continued to decline.
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