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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Kieran King

Wrexham target urged to snub big-money Ryan Reynolds transfer - "Can't blame him"

Wrexham target Andy Cook has been told to stay at Bradford and snub the Red Dragons this summer.

Cook, 32, scored 30 goals in 46 appearances for the Bantams in all competitions last season as Mark Hughes' side finished sixth. However, Bradford's campaign was cut-short when they lost to Carlisle in the play-off semi-final, with the Cumbrian side going on to beat Stockport at Wembley.

Having also claimed the League Two Golden Boot, Cook is attracting admirers from League One and several other League Two clubs. One of those reporting interested in his signature is Wrexham, who will play their football in the fourth-tier for the first time in 15 years following promotion from the National League.

Phil Parkinson's side are set to bolster their squad with 'one or two' additions this summer and a new striker could be on their list of priorities to support Paul Mullin at the top end of the pitch. Cook is similar to Ollie Palmer, who played alongside Mullin up front last season but may see his game time cut short this term.

However, former Bradford forward James Hanson has urged Cook to stay at the Bantams next season. He told the Argus : "I don't know why but I could see him going to Wrexham. Knowing Phil and the type of player he likes, it would be a statement signing for them to get League Two’s top goal-scorer along with Paul Mullin.

"To score more than 30 goals in a season is unbelievable. It’s an incredible achievement. I’d imagine Andy will have interest and maybe from League One as well. You probably couldn’t blame him if he took the chance. He’s at that stage of his career where if he gets a three-year deal on double the money you’re not going to argue.

Andy Cook has been linked with a move to Wrexham (Getty Images)

"Hopefully Bradford can tie him down with a new deal. But obviously if they had got promotion, they would have been in a better position."

As for Wrexham, Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have vowed to do everything in their power to support manager Parkinson as Wrexham make the step up, with Mullin, goalkeeper Mark Howard and winger Anthony Forde all having their contracts extended by a year after promotion, and the club also taking up options to extend the contracts of Scott Butler and Aaron James.

The club have confirmed that talks will take place with veteran goalkeeper Ben Foster, 40, who turned heads when he came out of retirement to sign for Wrexham on a short-term deal in March.

The 11 players released following the expiration of their contracts are: Ryan Austin, Kai Calderbank-Park, Malik Dijksteel, Reece Hall-Johnson, Jake Hyde, Harry Lennon, Rory Watson, Tom Jenkins, Dan Jones, Louis Lloyd and Will Mountfield, with 28-year-old defender Lennon deciding to retire from football due to injury.

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