Wrexham are nearly finished with their transfer business but signing a striker would cap off a successful window for Phil Parkinson.
Wrexham have captured seven recruits and some of their new arrivals have made an instant impact. Arthur Okonkwo was labelled as the best player on the pitch against Bolton while Phil Parkinson waxed lyrical over Sebastian Revan.
But for the Reds to mount a serious promotion challenge, a prolific striker is required to play alongside Paul Mullin and that remains their priority in the closing days of the window.
The strongest links most recently have involved Sheffield Wednesday duo Bailey Cadamarteri and Michael Smith, who could now leave this summer as the Owls plan on signing two new strikers.
Smith is the preferred option of the two given he’s plundered 34 goals in his previous two League One campaigns, firing Wednesday and Rotherham United to promotion.
So, with that said, here are three players who could be worried if Wrexham sign the ‘game-changing’ 32-year-old.
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Three players who could be worried if Wrexham sign Michael Smith
Steven Fletcher
Veteran striker Steven Fletcher signed a one-year contract extension at the Racecourse Ground this summer and claims if he didn’t receive the offer from Wrexham, he would have retired.
The former Premier League forward is now 37-years-old and has been utilised from the bench in each of their first three fixtures, scoring Wrexham’s third goal against Wycombe Wanderers.
Fletcher knows that his days as a footballer could be numbered at the end of the campaign, with the Scotsman anticipating retirement.
While that is the case, Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds capturing Smith could push him further down the pecking order, as Ollie Palmer would likely be second choice in that role.
Fletcher will be quietly hoping that no strikers are signed as we enter the final week of the window.
Ollie Palmer
In the absence of Mullin, Palmer has started alongside Jack Marriott at the head of Wrexham’s attack.
The 32-year-old, who sees his contract expire next summer, is arguably playing for a new deal at the club as there are no guarantees he’ll be given one.
Palmer is preferred over Fletcher, which means he’s the likely candidate to partner Mullin however, the signing of Smith would put his game time in jeopardy.
Smith wouldn’t be captured to sit on the bench and given his pedigree at this level, he’d be a regular starter for Parkinson.
Alongside Fletcher, Palmer is another who would be worried about his game time if Wrexham acquired a new striker.
READ MORE: Ollie Palmer: Profile, Height, Transfer, Salary, Net Worth, Clothing
Jack Marriott
At the start of this season, Jack Marriott has had a rare opportunity to lead Wrexham’s front line as Mullin recovers from his spinal surgery.
From scoring a stunning volley against Wycombe to pressing his opponents ferociously, the 29-year-old has impressed in attack.
But sadly, with the return of Mullin imminent, his place in the team is at huge risk. Add to that the prospect of Smith or Cadamarteri arriving and Marriott could soon find himself fourth or fifth in the pecking order.
The former Derby striker has shown enough of his quality to be an invaluable weapon for Parkinson but it remains to be seen how a new arrival impacts his game time.