£1.5m striker could now be offered emotional Championship transfer to rival Wrexham interest
Wrexham have secured the signing of one relegated striker but may still be in the market for another this summer.
Phil Parkinson has bolstered his attacking options after Wrexham confirmed the signing of Ryan Hardie on Monday.
Wrexham are paying £700,000 to sign Hardie from Plymouth Argyle, handing the Scot a three-year deal.
Hardie hit 22 goals across two Championship campaigns for Argyle and now returns to the second tier with Wrexham.
This may not be the end of Wrexham’s attacking recruitment, though, given that Steven Fletcher is moving on and both Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer could follow.
Wrexham took advantage of Argyle’s relegation with a deal for Hardie and may have another League One forward on the radar.
Preston North End linked with Wrexham target Callum Robinson
Renewed links to Hardie first emerged in May, as reporter Darren Witcoop claimed Wrexham were eyeing Cardiff City’s Callum Robinson alongside Hardie.
Both strikers suffered relegation to the Championship at the end of last season and are bound to attract Championship interest.
Hardie loves to play on the shoulder of the last defender, but Robinson can drop in and drive forward with the ball at his feet.
Robinson, who cost the Bluebirds £1.5million in 2022 according to BBC Sport, hit 12 goals in 34 Championship games last season despite Cardiff’s relegation.
Wrexham may still be in the hunt for Robinson even after signing Hardie, but more Championship interest is emerging.
The Irish Examiner claim that Preston North End are now interested in re-signing Robinson from Cardiff this summer.
PNE have seen Emil Riis leave the club on a free transfer while Ched Evans’ playing days at Deepdale are over.
North End desperately need attacking additions and may hope to bring Robinson back to Deepdale some six years after selling him to Sheffield United.
Callum Robinson could be offered emotional move
Wrexham’s pulling power is strong, but any concrete interest from PNE will tug on Robinson’s heartstrings to some extent.
Robinson first joined North End in 2014 and played his part over the course of a promotion-winning season in League One.
The 30-year-old was an Aston Villa youngster at the time and chose to join Bristol City on loan for the 2015-16 season.
When that move didn’t work out, PNE re-signed Robinson on loan for the second half of the campaign – and then turned the move permanent.
Robinson became a star at Deepdale, scoring 29 goals in three seasons during his permanent stay with the Lilywhites.
Robinson even bagged a goal and two assists in four outings against Parkinson’s Bolton Wanderers side in the Championship.
Joining this Wrexham project will certainly appeal if Parkinson comes calling for Robinson, but the chance to return to PNE yet again may give the Irish international a tough decision to make.
