The January transfer window is now just hours away from opening and Wrexham are again being inked with potential striking additions.
2024 is now coming to an end and Wrexham can go into 2025 on a high after claiming second place on Sunday afternoon.
Wrexham’s 2-1 home win over Wigan Athletic saw Phil Parkinson end 2024 in an automatic promotion spot following Wycombe Wanderers’ defeat to Charlton Athletic.
A third straight promotion is not out of the question but Wrexham still need to attack the January transfer window.
Parkinson will want more quality in his ranks and reports suggest that Wrexham want to sign another striker.
Wrexham linked with £2m Championship striker
Leeds United’s Patrick Bamford has been linked with Wrexham but he may be a little out of reach in terms of wages.
Harry Cornick is being linked with Wrexham too with Bristol City boss Liam Manning confirming that Cornick can leave.
Another Championship forward is now being mentioned with Football League World reporting that Wrexham want Plymouth Argyle striker Ryan Hardie.
They suggest that Wrexham have been joined by Huddersfield Town in the race to sign Hardie during the January transfer window.
The report claims that Hardie has a £2million release clause in his contract – a value both Wrexham and Huddersfield are willing to pay.
That would absolutely obliterate Wrexham’s transfer record, which still stands at less than £1million.
When asked about breaking that record, Ben Tozer called on Wrexham to sign the right players rather than focus on how much money is being spent.
Hardie may be the right man for Wrexham but that price tag does seem a little lofty.
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Who is Wrexham target Ryan Hardie?
Hardie came up through the Rangers ranks but only made 17 first-team appearances for the Scottish giants.
After loan spells with Raith Rovers, St Mirren and Livingston, Hardie completed a permanent move to Blackpool in 2019.
That deal really didn’t work out and after just six months on the seaside, Hardie joined Plymouth Argyle on what turned out to be a year-long loan.
Hardie has been a mainstay for Argyle ever since joining, scoring 64 times in 229 games whilst adding 22 assists.
The 27-year-old’s League One record stands at 34 goals in 131 games, around one in four games.
13 goals in 59 games at Championship level is around one in four-and-a-half games, so he isn’t an absolutely guaranteed source of goals.
Former Argyle boss Ryan Lowe hailed Hardie as ‘different class’ when speaking to BBC Sport in 2021 with his pace and movement off the shoulder potentially a new dynamic for this Wrexham side.
Parkinson may view Hardie as a player who can help get Wrexham over the line and then score goals in the Championship too, but £2million would be a significant investment.