Wrexham have been in the market for a new striker and Phil Parkinson appears to have won the race for a proven League One forward.
Wrexham suffered a major disappointment on Tuesday night, losing 3-2 at the hands of Stevenage.
That means Phil Parkinson’s unbeaten home run has gone and Wrexham are starting to drift away from the automatic promotion race in League One.
Wrexham have signed Ryan Longman this month but Parkinson wants more signings to arrive before Monday’s transfer deadline.
Reports well in advance of January suggested that Wrexham wanted to splash the cash on a new striker.
Wrexham have approached Sheffield Wednesday’s Michael Smith but with a deal unlikely, a new top target appears to have emerged.
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Wrexham close in on signing League One striker
Forget Michael Smith, Wrexham appear to be focusing on signing Reading’s Sam Smith instead.
The Reading Chronicle report that Wrexham have now won the race to sign Smith.
It’s stated that Reading will be receiving a ‘multi-million pound fee’ for Smith, meaning Wrexham’s transfer record will have been shattered.
Wrexham have paid in the region of £500,000 for Longman, Ollie Rathbone and Modou Faal in recent times but the Smith deal looks to have shattered the club record.
The deal is expected to go through the transfer deadline on Monday and Wrexham may even hope to have Smith on board for this weekend’s trip to Crawley Town.
Wrexham have numbers in attack but the quality has been lacking this season, hence the move for Smith.
Paul Mullin has been a goal machine in recent years but it just hasn’t quite clicked for him this term.
Ollie Palmer hasn’t been prolific, Jack Marriott is only just back from injury and Steven Fletcher may be best used as an impact substitute at this stage in his career.
Faal is an option too but it’s clear that Parkinson doesn’t see him as being a regular League One player just yet.
Having seen Huddersfield Town splash the cash on attackers this month, Wrexham are now ready to follow suit and bring Smith to the STōK Cae Ras.
Who is Wrexham target Sam Smith?
Smith hails from Manchester and came up in the Manchester United youth ranks, spending 10 years with the Red Devils before being let go at 16.
Smith joined Reading but spent most of his time out on loan though and played just 11 first-team games for the Royals, scoring twice.
Spells with Bishop’s Stortford, Oxford United, Shrewsbury Town, Cambridge United, Tranmere Rovers and Cheltenham Town followed before Reading allowed Smith to leave for Cambridge on a permanent basis.
This is where Smith really kicked on, scoring 35 times in 109 games before returning to Reading in 2023.
Smith’s record is even better, hitting 27 goals in 63 appearances for Reading since his return to the club.
That kind of goalscoring record is hugely impressive and could be the different in the promotion race for Wrexham.
Former Royals boss Ruben Selles called Smith an ‘exceptional player’ when speaking to Reading Today earlier this season and he should provide Wrexham with a guaranteed source of goals at this level.
Still only 26, Smith may well be ready to step up to the Championship pretty soon – and that jump will hopefully come with Wrexham.