Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson has been left with one issue that must be solved ahead of the summer transfer window slamming shut.
This summer has seen Wrexham’s squad undergo massive changes, with many players coming in ahead of the 2025/26 Championship season.
Wrexham have notched three successive promotions under the experienced Phil Parkinson, and as a result, the landscape of the squad has had to change significantly.
The area in which Parkinson has emphasised the need for recruitment has been in the final third, with many new strikers arriving at the Racecourse Ground.
Most recently, Nathan Broadhead has joined Wrexham, who joins a crop of attacking talents such as Ryan Hardie, Josh Windass and Kieffer Moore, to name a few.
A number of players have been left in doubt, including Ollie Palmer. However, Parkinson will surely be more concerned about the looming £1.3m issue that he faces.
- READ MORE: Welcome to Wrexham spin-off series given ‘painful’ and ‘frustrating’ reviews after release
Phil Parkinson should be more concerned about moving on Jay Rodriguez ahead of Ollie Palmer
Wrexham’s squad is somewhat bloated after their recent transfer activity, meaning that it is paramount for Phil Parkinson to sanction departures from the Racecourse Ground.
Ollie Palmer’s Wrexham future has been left in doubt, with it looking likely that he will move on this summer, but surely more attention should turn towards Jay Rodriguez.
Per Capology, Rodriguez is reportedly on an annual salary of £1.3m, which is significantly more than the other players at the club last season.
It is expected that neither Rodriguez nor Palmer will be in line for sufficient game time this season. However, after Palmer’s two goals against Hull City, it is clear that he can offer more in the short term compared to Rodriguez, who has been plagued with fitness concerns.
- READ MORE: Wrexham could face Man United gem vs West Brom, Red Devils star thinks he is ‘really good’
Ollie Palmer deserves a second chance after EFL Cup heroics for Wrexham
In the weeks building up to the 2025/26 season, it was clear that Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac were willing to back Phil Parkinson with many signings. As a result, it looked like Ollie Palmer’s fate at Wrexham was sealed.
However, his cameo against Hull City has proven that he is keen to fight for the badge and his spot in the squad. It is unlikely that he will be able to command a starting spot in Wrexham’s Championship squad, but he would definitely be a top option to bring off the bench when the Red Dragons need to get the ball forward to a target man.
Parkinson should have a rethink on his plans for Palmer after giving so much for the club, and proving that he can do it at the top level after his showing against Hull City in the EFL Cup.
In terms of finances, as well as what they can offer to Wrexham, surely Parkinson will now be more concerned with getting Jay Rodriguez off the wage bill in comparison to the lesser-paid Palmer, who is only on a reported £312,000 annual salary.