The door may have just opened for Wrexham amid their rumoured transfer interest in a now Premier League striker.
Wrexham fans already have some new names to mull over ahead of the summer transfer window, after watching their club earn promotion from League One, making history in the process.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s Wrexham have now earned three-straight promotions becoming the first-ever professional team in English football to achieve the feat.
But the hard work really starts now. Phil Parkinson’s side have a monumental summer transfer window coming up and if the Dragons get it wrong, they could easily find themselves back in League One after just a season.
There’s hope and expectations of a big summer, though. Wrexham are linked with Callum Robinson and Ryan Hardie suggesting that thy want both Championship quality players, and more attacking players too.
Wrexham handed unexpected boost in Joe Gelhardt transfer race
One name linked with Wrexham throughout the 2024/25 season was Leeds United’s Joe Gelhardt. Wrexham wanted to sign Gelhardt in the January transfer window but he eventually joined Hull City on loan, and he went on to shine for the Tigers scoring five in 20 Championship outings for the club.
Following Leeds’ promotion, Gelhardt is expected to leave this summer and Wrexham could very well be in the running following their promotion, and their obvious desire to sign Championship proven strikers in the summer transfer window.
What’s more is that the Dragons may now have an upper hand in the race with Hull City manager Ruben Selles facing an uncertain future. Despite guiding the club to safety, journalist Darren Witcoop reports that Hull City chairman Acun Ilicali is considering sacking the former Reading boss.
Joe Gelhardt is a ‘human wrecking ball’ and that’s exactly what Wrexham need
Wrexham’s frontline will undergo some changes this summer: Ollie Palmer and Paul Mullin look set to leave the club, whilst Steven Fletcher is out of contract and facing an uncertain summer too, likely leaving the club at 38 years old.
Sam Smith will remain the main man for Wrexham next season. Following his £2million move from Reading in January he showed that he’s a very technical and clinical striker, also a hard-working one. But Gelhardt takes that hard-working element to the next level.
He’s a very strong and fast player and former Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa even described him as a ‘human wrecking ball’ once. Up against very physical opponents in the Championship, Wrexham could do with a player exactly like that in their ranks next season.
Physicality isn’t something Wrexham have a tonne of right now.