Wrexham’s second season in the Championship has started steadily rather than spectacularly, leaving Phil Parkinson with work to do if his side are to mount another promotion challenge.
The Red Dragons came within touching distance of the playoffs last term, finishing seventh after their extraordinary run of successive promotions finally came to an end.
That raised expectations, but the opening weeks of the new campaign have shown once again how unforgiving the division can be.
After nine league matches, Wrexham sit 15th with 11 points, winning twice, drawing five times and losing only twice, scoring 10 goals and conceding 13.
Their latest point came at Derby County on Saturday, when Ollie Rathbone struck in the 88th minute to rescue a 1-1 draw.
Wrexham were not at their fluent best, but the late response underlined the character which has become a major feature of Parkinson’s team.
There have been promising signs elsewhere, with a commanding 3-0 victory at Millwall and a 2-1 home win over Southampton showing what Wrexham can do at their very best, although the painful 6-0 defeat at West Ham exposed the gap they still need to close.
The results leave them only three points outside the top half, but five draws from nine matches suggest they need to turn more competitive performances into victories.
Adding greater control, strength and scoring threat in midfield could therefore become an important part of their January plans, and that search has now taken them to Norway.
Wrexham join West Brom and Southampton in race for Viking star Kristoffer Askildsen
According to Ontheminute.com, Wrexham are tracking Viking midfielder Kristoffer Askildsen.
Askildsen has also attracted interest from Southampton, Bristol City and West Brom, setting up the possibility of a second tier battle for the Champions League ace’s signature.
Wrexham’s interest is still at the monitoring stage, with no suggestion an approach has been made, but Askildsen’s profile makes it easy to understand why he has appeared on their radar.
The Norwegian can operate in central or defensive midfield, offering the physical presence needed for the Championship, but he is not simply a player who just sits in front of the back four.
Askildsen has racked up five goals and two assists in 21 Eliteserien appearances for Viking this season, and across all competitions during 2026, he’s made 27 appearances and been directly involved in nine goals.
|
Kristoffer Askildsen’s Viking stats in 2026 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Competition |
Appearances |
Starts |
Goals |
Assists |
Minutes |
|
Eliteserien |
21 |
21 |
5 |
2 |
1,699 |
|
Champions League qualifying |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
180 |
|
Champions League |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
90 |
|
Norwegian Cup |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
152 |
|
Total |
27 |
26 |
5 |
4 |
2,121 |
His experience should also appeal to Parkinson.
Askildsen has played in Serie A for Sampdoria and Lecce, while he also spent time with Midtjylland before returning to Norway. He helped Viking win the Eliteserien title in 2025 and has continued to grow into a leading role.
Wrexham have recruited plenty of proven domestic players since climbing the pyramid, but Askildsen would represent a different type of deal.
He is still entering his prime but has already been tested in several countries, and Transfermarkt values him at around £3.5 million.
Wrexham’s interest points to a club already planning ahead, and if Askildsen maintains his current form, the race for him could become one of the more interesting Championship transfer stories in January or next summer.