Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson says the club faces several "big decisions" over the composition of its squad as it explores a possible move for Norway centre-back Henrik Falchener, with the Championship season already under way and the summer transfer window nearing its close.
The Red Dragons have been linked with the 23-year-old Viking Stavanger defender as they look to reinforce their defence before the deadline. According to The Athletic, published on 12 August 2026, Wrexham are now actively pursuing a deal for the two-cap international.
Parkinson would not be drawn on the specifics of any pursuit but confirmed there is still recruitment work to be done before the window shuts.
"We're still not where we want to be with the squad."
"We've got to make sure the squad is capable of dealing with the rigours of a Championship season."
"So we've got some big decisions to make, as always, and hopefully by the end of this transfer window, we'll have the squad numbers-wise where we want it, but also strength and quality."
Asked directly about interest in Falchener, Parkinson declined to comment on the individual.
"We're linked with so many players and I'd never want to comment on any individuals."
Who is Henrik Falchener?
Falchener is a 1.94-metre, right-footed centre-back who joined Viking in January 2025 after being born in Tønsberg, according to Transfermarkt, which also lists his contract with the Norwegian club as running until 31 December 2029. He made his senior international debut for Norway on 31 March 2026 in a friendly against Switzerland, and was subsequently named in the country's 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on 21 May 2026.
He started for Norway in a 4-1 group-stage defeat to 2018 champions France at the tournament, though FIFA's official World Cup player profile credits him with just one appearance at the finals overall. For Viking this season, ESPN's statistics show he has made 11 league starts in the 2026 Eliteserien, scoring two goals and providing one assist, having also found the net in wins over Rosenborg and Kristiansund in May.
What has Wrexham's summer window looked like so far?
Wrexham had endured a slow start to their recruitment, with Parkinson urging patience earlier in the window after finishing seventh in the Championship last season — their highest-ever league position and the best return for a Welsh club in 25 years, as detailed in our earlier coverage of Parkinson's confidence in the squad. At the start of July, with no new arrivals yet completed and further departures expected during the club's US pre-season tour, Parkinson had called for calm, as reported in our piece on Parkinson's call for patience amid a slow transfer window.
That picture has since shifted. Full-back Danny Imray arrived from Crystal Palace — a move that had been closing in on completion, as covered in our report on Wrexham's pursuit of Palace defender Danny Imray — alongside central midfielder Ben Whiteman. This week the club added a third signing, goalkeeper Anthony Patterson.
Why does the Patterson signing matter?
Patterson, who won two promotions during his time at Sunderland, has signed a four-year contract with Wrexham. Parkinson gave him his professional debut at Sunderland in November 2020 and says he has followed the goalkeeper's progress ever since.
"I think his record is there, it speaks for itself really."
"He's a young keeper, he's played for his hometown club and handled that pressure really well."
"That's not easy because there's a lot of expectations at Sunderland and he's been part of promotions and play-off campaigns up there."
"He went to Millwall and did well, but when he was a youngster when me and Steve [assistant manager Parkin] were at Sunderland, we always thought he was going to be a really good keeper."
"We've watched his progress and we're pleased to see him do so well and we're even more delighted that we've been able to bring him to the club."
Patterson's arrival leaves the futures of Wrexham's existing goalkeepers uncertain. Danny Ward, Arthur Okonkwo and Callum Burton are all entering the final year of their contracts, and Parkinson indicated the club will continue to review the goalkeeping department before the window closes.
"We wanted to strengthen the goalkeeping department which we've now done and we'll assess things as we go along before the close of the window."
Who has left Wrexham for Bolton?
Ahead of Wrexham's Championship opener at Cardiff City on Monday, kicking off at 20:00 BST, the club confirmed that striker Ryan Hardie and defender Lewis Brunt have both moved to Bolton Wanderers, a club Parkinson previously managed. Hardie, who spent the second half of the 2025-26 season on loan at Huddersfield Town, has joined Bolton on a season-long loan, while Brunt has completed a permanent transfer to the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
"With Ryan, he went on loan last year at Huddersfield and he got quite a bad injury and he was just coming back from an injury. He had a bit of bad luck."
"We felt, me and Ryan together, that he needed to have a sustained period of football this year. It's a good signing for Bolton, Ryan's a good player."
"A bit of a similar story in many respects. Brunty's been brilliant, a promotion-winning player, he was in the team but pulled his thigh at Middlesbrough away."
"He was concerned going into the last of his contract that if he didn't play this year that his career would be really halted."
"I think it's a good opportunity and as much as we want to keep the squad strong and we're still looking to improve at our end, you've also got to be fair to players as well."
What happens next?
Wrexham's ability to complete a deal for Falchener will hinge on the summer transfer window deadline, with Parkinson expecting the squad to be finalised in terms of numbers and quality before it shuts, as he indicated in his own remarks on the matter. Whether Viking would be willing to sell a defender contracted until the end of 2029, and who has just come off a World Cup appearance, remains to be seen as the window enters its closing stages.
Key Facts
- Henrik Falchener, 23, is a 1.94m centre-back at Viking Stavanger with a contract until 31 December 2029.
- He has made 11 Eliteserien starts this season, scoring two goals and adding one assist.
- Wrexham have already signed Danny Imray, Ben Whiteman and goalkeeper Anthony Patterson this summer.
- Ryan Hardie and Lewis Brunt have both departed for Bolton Wanderers, on loan and permanently respectively.
- Wrexham open their Championship campaign at Cardiff City on Monday at 20:00 BST.
