Wrexham ‘closing in on huge £8million Premier League transfer’ as Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney fund new promotion bid

WREXHAM are inching towards an £8million deal for Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson. Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney look prepared to bankroll another promotion push with the 26-year-old’s fee already having been agreed. Anthony Patterson is set for a move from Sunderland to Wrexham Credit: Getty The two sides have agreed a record-breaking £8million fee for the shot-stopper Credit: Alamy Patterson looks set to undergo a medical on Monday before sealing the deal, with no late issues expected to derail the move. It could be a record-breaking transfer for the Dragons, whose current transfer record stands at £7.5m for Nathan Broadhead last year. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! The shot-stopper will be Phil Parkinson’s third signing of the summer as he follows Danny Imray and Ben Whiteman to the Racecourse Ground. The Sunderland academy product established himself as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper during the 2021/22 campaign. He was instrumental in helping the Black Cats earn promotion to the Premier League in 2025, producing two crucial saves in the Championship play-off final victory over Sheffield United at Wembley. But the arrival of Dutch keeper Robin Roefs last summer forced Patterson down the pecking order. Millwall took him on loan in January. He made 16 appearances in all competitions for the Lions and featured in both legs of their Championship play-off semi-final against Hull. Most read in Sport BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Play Dream Team this season! £100,000 in prize money up for grabs in 2026/27 Free to enter Play in Mini Leagues against your mates £60,000 jackpot for the overall winner £1,000 prize for winning Gameweek 1 PLAY DREAM TEAM NOW! Now, Patterson will battle Arthur Okonkwo and veteran Danny Ward for the No1 shirt. Parkinson’s side leaked 65 league goals last season – the eighth-worst defensive record in the Championship – making a new goalkeeper a priority this summer. Yet, the Hollywood-backed club finished seventh, just two points outside the top six. And they will benefit from the expanded play-off system this season that allows the teams finishing seventh and eighth to compete for promotion. Wrexham kicked off their season with a narrow 1-0 Carabao Cup victory over Middlesbrough as they look ahead to a promising run. Their Championship campaign will commence on August 17 at Cardiff City. Comment now