Wrexham’s pursuit of Sheffield Wednesday striker Michael Smith may have hit a stumbling block amid reported interest from Championship side Derby County.
Smith is believed to be surplus to requirements at Hillsborough, with Danny Rohl keen to add reinforcements to his front line. That makes the 32-year-old available to potential suitors, one of which is believed to be Wrexham.
They’ve been in talks with the striker, although the two sides were ‘some way apart’ when the report dropped on August 11th. It seems that despite their eagerness to get a deal done, Phil Parkinson’s side could now be about to lose out on Smith.
Derby Live are reporting that Derby County are in the market for a number nine, and Smith has been on their radar for a while. Manager Paul Warne attempted to secure his services in January, but a deal was not possible. The Owls demanded a loan fee, despite reportedly offering to pay his wages to get him on the move.
The situation has now changed, with Derby in the Championship and Sheff Weds open to a permanent move, which makes the Rams a possibility once more. There’s also the ‘Warne factor’ – Smith is a Paul Warne favourite and has played under the current Rams boss before at Rotherham.
All of that seemingly makes it a little harder for the ambitious Welsh side to tempt him into League One, despite their decent start to the season. Wrexham have opened with a win against Wycombe (3-2) and a draw with Bolton (0-0) to leave them eighth in the fledgling table.
Smith is something of a journeyman striker, having played for Darlington, Workington, Charlton, Accrington, Newport, Colchester, Wimbledon, Swindon, Barnsley, Portsmouth, Northampton and Bury before 2018. He found a more permanent home under Paul Warne at Rotherham, scoring 61 goals in 210 outings and twice winning promotion to the Championship.
He left them in 2022, moving to Sheffield Wednesday, where he’s now amassed 26 goals in 86 appearances, including four last season in the Championship and one in this campaign.
Writer’s View
Smith is 32, and at that age, certain things become more important than money. Location can be a big factor for an older player, they may have family they don’t wish to uproot. There are 40 miles between Sheffield and Derby, which is half the distance between Sheffield and Wrexham.
There’s also the level – Derby are a Championship club, and the prospect of linking up with Warne again is sure to be a lure. That said, one shouldn’t rule out Wrexham in this hunt. There’s plenty said (jokingly) about their relationship with Hollywood, but it is sure to be a factor in a player’s decision. Ollie Palmer and Paul Mullin reportedly appeared in the new Deadpool movie, albeit briefly, and while it sounds gimmicky, it’s sure to be something players bear in mind.
This doesn’t feel like a transfer that will be cut and dried, so while there may be roadblocks in Wrexham’s pursuit, it doesn’t feel dead just yet.
Leave a Reply