Pavel Sulc explains why he turned down Wrexham’s record £35m approach

Lyon midfielder Pavel Sulc has revealed that he rejected a huge offer from Wrexham during the summer transfer window, despite the Welsh club being prepared to make him the most expensive signing in Championship history.

The Czech international confirmed that Wrexham submitted a bid worth around £35 million for his services last month. However, the 25-year-old decided against making the move because he did not want to relocate to Wales and play in the Championship.

Sulc, who was crowned Czech Footballer of the Year last year, attracted considerable attention throughout the transfer window. Several Premier League clubs were reportedly interested in the attacking midfielder, while Italian giants Juventus also explored the possibility of signing him.

Leeds United, Everton and Aston Villa were among the English clubs linked with the player. Nevertheless, it was Wrexham who eventually made the most substantial offer as Ryan Reynolds and the club’s ambitious owners looked to complete another major statement signing.

Wrexham prepared to break transfer records

Reynolds was prepared to break the bank to land the Lyon star(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

Reports towards the end of the transfer window suggested Wrexham were ready to make an extraordinary attempt to bring Sulc to the Championship.

Lyon were believed to value the attacking midfielder at approximately £35 million, a figure Wrexham were reportedly willing to meet. If completed, the deal would have comfortably broken the club’s existing transfer record.

It would also have established a new benchmark for the Championship. That record had only recently been set when West Ham paid £22 million to Celtic for Arne Engels.

Despite Wrexham’s willingness to invest such a significant amount, the proposed transfer never progressed to completion. Sulc remained at Lyon, where he has a contract running until June 2029.

The player has now explained exactly why he decided against the opportunity, while also confirming the enormous scale of Wrexham’s proposal.

Sulc confirms £35m Wrexham bid

Sulc was not keen on a move to Wrexham

Speaking to Czech publication Seznam Zpravy, Sulc explained that he wanted his representatives to bring him genuine transfer opportunities rather than rumours or speculation.

He said Lyon were also heavily involved in deciding whether a transfer could happen because the French club needed to consider the financial value of any proposal before agreeing to sell him.

According to Sulc, Wrexham submitted the largest offer of all the clubs interested in him. He confirmed that the Welsh club’s proposal was worth around one billion Czech koruna, equivalent to approximately £35 million.

Despite the eye-catching financial package, the player had little desire to move to Wrexham.

Sulc acknowledged the unique story surrounding the club and recognised that Wrexham have developed a global profile since their Hollywood-backed takeover. However, he admitted that the prospect of moving to a small Welsh town and playing in the Championship did not appeal to him.

He also appeared aware that his comments could sound dismissive, adding that he hoped they would not be interpreted as condescending.

Juventus interest appealed to Sulc

While Wrexham’s proposal was financially the largest, Sulc admitted that another club immediately captured his imagination.

Juventus made contact over a potential transfer, and the Czech midfielder revealed that he was excited when he heard from the Serie A giants.

The player described Juventus as a club with an exceptional history, a famous stadium and a strong connection with Czech football. Those factors made the possibility of moving to Turin particularly attractive to him.

Sulc also revealed that his girlfriend, Natali, would have been very enthusiastic about a move to Italy.

He made it clear that, had Juventus and Lyon reached an agreement, he would have been open to joining the Italian giants.

However, Juventus did not make an offer large enough for Lyon to accept. As a result, negotiations ended and Sulc remained in France.

Sulc focused on Lyon

Although the midfielder was involved in transfer speculation throughout the summer, he insisted that his attention remained on performing for Lyon.

The club ultimately kept hold of one of its important attacking players and secured his future with a contract that extends until 2029.

Sulc said he remained focused on becoming as valuable as possible to Lyon throughout the transfer window. Rather than allowing the speculation to disrupt him, he continued concentrating on his responsibilities with the French club.

His comments underline the difference between the various opportunities presented to him. While Wrexham were willing to spend more money than any other interested club, Sulc was not persuaded by the prospect of moving to the Championship.

Juventus, meanwhile, offered the kind of sporting environment and history that appealed to him, but Lyon’s valuation prevented that transfer from happening.

Wrexham’s ambitious transfer strategy

The failed move nevertheless highlights the scale of Wrexham’s ambitions under Reynolds and their ownership group.

Since the club’s takeover, Wrexham have rapidly climbed the English football pyramid and have continued investing heavily in their squad. A £35 million bid for a player already attracting interest from Premier League and European clubs would have represented another extraordinary statement.

Although Sulc ultimately rejected the opportunity, Wrexham demonstrated that they were prepared to compete financially for a player of significant international standing.

For Sulc, however, the decision came down to more than money. The Czech international preferred to continue his career at Lyon rather than move to the Championship.

The attacking midfielder will now remain in France for the foreseeable future, while Wrexham must continue searching for other high-profile targets capable of matching their rapidly growing ambitions.

His rejection means Wrexham’s proposed record transfer never became reality, but the £35 million approach has nevertheless provided another indication of just how far the Welsh club’s ambitions have expanded.