Wrexham’s chances of a signing one striker target this summer might now be all over. But it’s not all bad for Phil Parkinson, who’s just signed Ryan Hardie.
Wrexham have just signed Ryan Hardie on a permanent deal from Plymouth Argyle, kickstarting their summer transfer business following promotion to the Championship.
Hardie was linked with Wrexham for a number of weeks following the end of the 2024/25 season. And his eventual signing almost came out of nowhere with Phil Parkinson and co clearly having done the groundwork under the radar.
Speaking recently, Parkinson suggested Wrexham could complete another signing soon, now that the summer transfer window is back open for the rest of the summer.
And it could well be another striker signing with Parkinson clearly keen on bolstering his front line this summer, with Wrexham linked with a number of strikers already this summer.
One of those linked is Joe Gelhardt.
Wrexham’s chances of signing Joe Gelhardt this summer hit an impasse
Back in the January transfer window, Wrexham tried to sign Gelhardt on loan from Leeds United. But the former Wigan Athletic man joined Hull City on loan instead, going on to score five goals in 20 Championship games for the Tigers. Following the end of the season, Wrexham have been linked with Gelhardt once again.
But Wrexham Insider’s chief transfer correspondent Graeme Bailey has now revealed to us that Gelhardt moving to the Racecourse may not be all that likely this summer, even suggesting that the 23-year-old is a League One-standard striker.
Bailey explained: “I know Wrexham have been after him and have liked him for a while but now they have signed Hardie, do I think it will happen? Probably not. I think Gelhardt is a League One striker.” Bailey then added that any summer move for Gelhardt is likely to be a loan, saying: “Nobody is buying Gelhardt, his wages are too big.”
| Stat (Championship) | Ryan Hardie | Joe Gelhardt |
| Games | 77 | 69 |
| Goals | 22 | 9 |
| Assists | 7 | 3 |
| Mins-per-goal | 233 | 385 |
Wrexham might well have dodged a bullet with Joe Gelhardt
Gelhardt finds himself in a really tricky position at Leeds following the club’s promotion to the Premier League, and given what Bailey has just said about his wages.
It’s looking like another loan move for the youngster who, per Salary Sport earns £14,000-a-week, which would make him by far the highest-paid player at the Racecourse. Though Wrexham are ready to pay big player wages this summer and so Gelhardt could be affordable.
But he lacks much experience. Parkinson wants to sign experienced Championship players this summer, like Hardie, whereas Gelhardt still needs a full season of being prolific to call himself a proven Championship player.
Missing out on Gelhardt certainly isn’t the end of the world for Wrexham.