Wrexham have been dealt a huge blow after seeing their move for a ‘top drawer’ striker get completely ruled out.
Wrexham are readying themselves for a campaign in League One and that has prompted Phil Parkinson to make several changes to his first-team squad.
Whilst many players departed at the end of their contracts in June, including Ben Tozer and Luke Young, Wrexham have since acquired three players in the shape of Arthur Okonkwo, Lewis Brunt and George Dobson.
Those additions have also been complemented by the willingness to tie down their most valuable assets to new deals, with Max Cleworth, George Evans and Tom O’Connor all committing their future to the Welsh side.
Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds have showcased an appetite to plan for the future and Parkinson expects more players to arrive, although their pursuit of one talent can now be ruled out.
Neil Harris rules out Wrexham move for Tom Bradshaw
Recent reports have suggested that Wrexham are keen on signing Millwall striker Tom Bradshaw.
The 31-year-old Wales international is entering the final year of his contract and it was claimed that the experienced forward could be shifted on this summer.
That hope of landing Bradshaw was then heightened as the Lions captured Notts County goal machine Macaulay Langstaff, with many feeling that could spell the end for the Welshman’s time in South London.
However, manager Neil Harris has rubbished any reports linking his forward with a move away, claiming there’s ‘no substance’ while making it ‘very clear’ he sees former Barnsley marksman as a ‘huge’ part of his plans.
Speaking to the Southwark News, Harris said: “Tom’s going to be here. There’s been a lot of press around Tom but no substance whatsoever. So I’ll just make that very clear to you guys that all press elements seem to want to write something about Tom Bradshaw but there’s absolutely no substance whatsoever to it.
“Bradders has a huge part to play at this football club. He’s a senior statesman of the centre forward line at present and he’s got a huge role to play with us. He’s a great personality, good leadership skills. He’s infectious, he’s got energy still even as he’s getting older.”
Wrexham need to sign a younger striker
Bradshaw boasts a decent goal record in League One, scoring 42 goals in 123 appearances across spells at Shrewsbury Town, Walsall and Barnsley.
Having plundered 16 strikes in the 2022/23 Championship campaign, the Welshman has also proven he can score goals at a higher level and would have been a shrewd capture.
That said, Wrexham must now move on to other targets and instead of signing a player around the age of 30, they need to use their other transfer business as inspiration.
Okonwo, aged 22, and Brunt, 23, have long careers ahead of them and serve as investments for the future, while Bradshaw is at the other end of the spectrum.
Ideally, Parkinson needs to sign a pacey striker who is at the beginning of his career and can learn from the likes of Paul Mullin, Ollie Palmer and Steven Fletcher.