EFL expert questions Wrexham chiefs over Ryan Hardie signing, it doesn’t match clear Rob McElhenney ambition

Wrexham have been told that the signing of Ryan Hardie doesn’t match up with the clear ambition shown by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

Wrexham have made the signing of Ryan Hardie for £700,000 from Plymouth Argyle.

On the surface, it is a cracking purchase by Wrexham as Phil Parkinson looks to significantly bolster his attacking options ahead of the 2025/26 Championship season.

The board are set to make some difficult personnel decisions, especially regarding the future of Paul Mullin at Wrexham; the Liverpudlian hero looks likely to move to Wigan Athletic on loan, a deal that makes up space for yet another attacker to be added to the squad.

Championship experience and quality are of utmost importance this summer for Wrexham. Still, one EFL expert has told them that it doesn’t quite live up to the lofty expectations they have previously set.

EFL expert thinks Ryan Hardie doesn’t match Wrexham’s aims

With 10 Championship goals last season, it is clear that Hardie will succeed in adding quality to the ranks. Despite playing for a struggling Plymouth Argyle side, he still offered a brilliant threat in the second half of the season under Miron Muslic as his game was more focused on bringing other attackers into the picture.

EFL expert Ryan Dilks, speaking on the Second Tier Podcast, has praised Hardie and what he could offer to Parkinson’s Wrexham.

“I like Ryan Hardie, he’s a very good striker at this level,” said Dilks. “Ten goals in a struggling Plymouth side is very good going. He’s a good link-up player; he was always going to be a great signing for at least half the Championship this summer.”

However, Dilks was abruptly clear in suggesting that, whilst he is a top-notch signing, he doesn’t quite fit the bill for a side wishing to finish in the higher echelons of the Championship, something that the hierarchy will likely be hoping for.

“I don’t have much of an issue with it,” he continued. “The only thing I would say is if Wrexham aims to have a crack at getting promoted again, I’m not sure Ryan Hardie is good enough for that.

“When you had Rob McElhenney not long ago [saying] I don’t know the definition of consolidation…so I assume they’re going to be aiming high again. I’m not sure Ryan Hardie matches those standards.”

Wrexham must add further attacking talent this summer

It has been a brilliant start to the season to add goalscoring prowess early on, especially in the form of a player who has the assurance of being able to do it in the second tier.

However, this is the part where Wrexham need to truly kick on with their dealings and build on that momentum.

Wrexham are in an arguably unique position; they have been promoted from League One but seemingly have as much transfer pull as a top-half Championship side, and that ultimately comes down to the ambition already shown by the hierarchy.

That needs to continue this summer, and hopefully it means that Wrexham bring in extra attackers proven at this level who can play off Hardie and get the very best out of the former Plymouth man.