League One duo Wrexham and Huddersfield Town are set to do battle over the £2 million signing of Championship Plymouth Argyle’s Ryan Hardie this January transfer window, according to reports.
The ambitious League Two promotion winners and relegated Championship side are both battling it out in an attempt to be playing second tier football next season. They currently occupy 2nd and 4th spots respectively, and are separated by 5 points with the Terriers holding a game in hand on their Welsh counterparts.
According to a report by Football League World, the duo have turned their attention to Plymouth Argyle’s Ryan Hardie with both sides willing to meet his staggering £2million release clause.
Plymouth Argyle are already dealing with the challenge of replacing departing boss Wayne Rooney, who was sacked earlier today and may now be left without one of their key players.
Why are Wrexham and Huddersfield Interested in Hardie?
Hardie joined Plymouth Argyle in 2020 and has since gone on to be a key component of their side, appearing 229 times whilst chipping in with 64 goals.
He is an experienced player that is still well within the peak of his powers, and also has experience of not only gaining promotion from League One, but also playing regularly in the second division.
Rooney’s departure could impact any deal
When any manager departs it leaves the squad in an uncertain position, players who have been regulars may find their luck changing, whilst those who have been sidelined may be given a fresh outlook.
It’s likely that whoever the club bring in to replace Rooney will want to assess the squad. With Hardie featuring regularly in the second tier he may be tempted to turn down the approaches and try his luck under a new manager in the hope of remaining in the Championship playing regularly.
However, with both Wrexham and Huddersfield challenging for promotion, and the Welsh side offering some more… unique opportunities for brand and marketing he could be tempted to take the step down and take a chance at adding another promotion to his CV.