Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney sent ‘game changer’ transfer advice as Wrexham urged to snap up striker
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Red Dragons remain in the market for new recruits despite the 2024-25 campaign already getting underway. Jack Marriott and Steven Fletcher were both on target in a season-opening win over Wycombe, while Ollie Palmer and Sam Dalby also figured in that contest as prolific No.10 Paul Mullin recovers from surgery.
WHAT PALMER SAID
Despite boasting plenty of firepower, Wrexham are said to be mulling over a move for experienced Sheffield Wednesday frontman Smith. Ex-Owls star Carlton Palmer has told Football League World why a deal there would make sense to all concerned: “It’s believed that Wrexham have opened talks with Sheffield Wednesday about the potential signing of Michael Smith. Michael’s 32 years of age. Wrexham have had a meteoric rise, two back-to-back promotions, looking to make it a third. Opening day of the season win at home, 3-2 against Wycombe. They’re looking to do it, they’re looking to get promotion at the first time of asking out of League One to the Championship. If you’re going to do that, then you sign a Michael Smith, that’s as simple as that. Michael’s had two promotions out of this league, I believe, two or three promotions out of this league. He’s prolific in League One, he’s a guaranteed 20 goals a season in League One. He has that experience, he has that mentality, he works hard, he gives that edge to a team, and at Sheffield Wednesday he’s become a bit-part. And his record in the Championship is poor, he doesn’t score the same volumes as he does in League One in the Championship. So at 32, with a year left in his contract, with the players that they’ve brought into the football club now, [Ike] Ugbo now returning to the football club, it would make perfect sense for the Owls to go and get him off their wage bill now.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Former England international Palmer added: “It’d be a terrific signing for Wrexham, they’ve already got an array of talent, but the experience and quality that Michael Smith will bring to their team at that level will be a game changer for them. He plays games, he doesn’t miss games through injury, I think it’d be a fantastic move for Wrexham and, again signalling their intent on what they want to do, that they want to be in the Championship next season. With him falling down the pecking order at Sheffield Wednesday, I’m sure Sheffield Wednesday, if the deal’s right, with a year left on his contract, will let him go. Although every time he’s come on for Sheffield Wednesday, when he has last season, he’s featured from the bench, he’s always had a positive impact on the game.”
WHAT NEXT?
Smith is a proven performer in League One, with 18 goals recorded for Wednesday during his last season at that level. He helped them to promotion in 2022-23, a year after hitting 19 goals in the third tier for Rotherham as they also made their way into the Championship.
