Wrexham will no doubt be a busy club this summer as they attempt to tweak their personnel to fit into their fresh Championship surroundings.
The Red Dragons finally got the ball running with their first pick-up recently, with second-tier goal machine Ryan Hardie leaving Plymouth Argyle behind for a new adventure in Wales.
The now former Pilgrims number nine has an impressive 22 Championship strikes next to his name from 77 appearances at the level, with a hefty ten of those coming just last campaign, even as Argyle heartbreakingly slipped down to League One.
He will get more chances to strut his stuff in the EFL’s elite league with Phil Parkinson’s men, however, with this already bumper goal tally hopefully rising even more at the Racehorse Ground.
Hardie's reputation as a goal machine
The lethal Scotsman ended up being one of the very few select players to come out of Plymouth’s relegation season with their heads still held high.
Even if his individual season didn’t turn out to be that memorable, he still will have departed Home Park this summer as a modern icon of the club.
In total, Hardie bagged a colossal 74 goals from 248 appearances in Devon, with Wrexham excited to see what heights the 28-year-old can soar to as one of their main marksmen after promotion.
After all, with Paul Mullin rumoured to be off, the Red Dragons needed to bolster up top. But, the attacking signings might not be done just yet, as another statement deal involving a Championship regular could be in the offing to help Hardie become even more potent.
The "vital" star who could make Hardie even better
Whilst Hardie’s goal tally last season was seriously impressive, he might well have been hampered by the situation he found himself in at the foot of the second tier.
Wrexham will be aiming not to get sucked into any similar battles against the drop, and with potential signings such as Barry Bannan entering the door, no such dog-fights should be on the agenda.
On the contrary, Bannan’s potential arrival on the scene could have Wrexham dreaming of back-to-back promotions, with a report from football journalist Alan Nixon earlier this month talking up the prospect of the skilful 35-year-old midfielder swapping Hillsborough for pastures new in North Wales.
Of course, the Owls wouldn’t just let their long-standing servant leave so easily, but the Red Dragons have already poached one Championship superstar in Hardie, with Bannan perhaps the next to link up with Parkinson’s men to enhance the ex-Plymouth striker’s output.
Games played
374
77
Goals scored
18
22
Assists
51
7
Evidently a legend of the EFL now, even as he reaches the twilight years of his career, Hardie’s fellow compatriot continues to deliver the goods in terms of goals and assists in the taxing division, as seen in nine of his 69 overall goal contributions in the Championship coming in 2024/25 for Danny Rohl’s men.
Creating eight big chances along the way too, Bannan would be desperate to slot straight into his new Wrexham side and be as classy, with Hardie equally champing at the bit to line up alongside such illustrious company to try up his second-tier goal haul.
There has been talk to suggest that the much-loved figure at Hillsborough could opt to sign a new Owls deal before the month is out, with former Wednesday boss Darren Moore once labelling the diminutive ace as “vital” to the team’s cause.
But, if the clock continues to tick away and a deal isn’t struck, Wrexham will feel quietly confident that they could win his services for zilch, with Hardie potentially going on to be an even more effective goal machine partnered next to Bannan.
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