Wrexham have secured their first summer signing as excitement builds for the new season.
Wrexham confirmed the signing of Ryan Hardie for a fee thought to be around the £700k mark after failing to land the striker back in the January transfer window.
Phil Parkinson will love Plymouth’s verdict on Hardie as his former club describe the 28-year-old as ‘likeable’ and ‘reliable’ – two important traits for the Red Dragons’ boss.
Hardie’s arrival is bad news for Ollie Palmer as the striker looks even closer to an exit from the Racecourse Ground but thoughts now turn to how Wrexham will use their new striker next season.
READ MORE: ‘Getting closer’… Wrexham could announce another new signing after completing deal for Ryan Hardie
Three ways Wrexham can line up with new signing Ryan Hardie
Rob McElhenney welcomed Hardie to the club with a message on his social media account and Wrexham fans will be looking forward to seeing their new acquisition.
Hardie has great experience in the Championship and scored ten goals for Plymouth last season despite their relegation into League One.
Wrexham Insider looks at three ways Parkinson could set his team up next campaign with Hardie in the side.
Ryan Hardie replaces Jay Rodriguez as Sam Smith’s new strike partner
Perhaps the most obvious choice is Hardie to replace Jay Rodriguez as Sam Smith’s partner up top for the Red Dragons.
Wrexham fans were not impressed with Rodriguez following his January transfer from Burnley and there are doubts about his ability to cut it again in the second tier.
With Hardie and Smith pressing from the front, Wrexham would play high up the pitch and try and win the ball back in the opposition’s defensive third.
Ryan Hardie plays behind two strikers in a new role for Jay Rodriguez
Plymouth fans loved Hardie and are gutted to see him depart Home Park. Hardie joins former manager Miron Muslic in leaving the club this summer.
Muslic liked to use Hardie in a deeper, number ten position and should Parkinson follow suit, it could land Rodriguez a new role further forward in order to revitalise his Wrexham career.
Hardie would be the man sitting deeper and trying to be the link between attack and defence, it would be a bold move from Parkinson but he may have to try different things upon promotion.
Ryan Hardie replaces Sam Smith as Wrexham’s main striker
Smith is determined to prove himself in the Championship but Hardie’s arrival could mean that he is no longer Parkinson’s main man up top.
Hardie has a better track record than Smith in the second tier and could replace the 27-year-old as the focal point of the attack.
It is unlikely that Smith is dropped after his excellent form carried the Red Dragons to promotion however, Parkinson has shown a ruthless streak with players before…