Exclusive: Don Goodman tells Plymouth Argyle player he might find Wrexham AFC move "difficult to turn down" | OneFootball

Hardie has plenty of credit in the bank for his performances in Devon

Don Goodman has backed newly-promoted Wrexham to seal an agreement with Plymouth Argyle's Ryan Hardie despite the striker's strong affiliation to the Devon outfit.

The Red Dragons will be swapping places with Argyle at the conclusion of the season after achieving the record-breaking feat of three successive promotions from the National League through to the Championship, whilst Miron Muslic was unable to pull off a 'great escape' miracle at Home Park despite a strong run of form towards the end of the season.

Naturally, with the summer transfer window just weeks away, speculation has already begun, with Wrexham at the forefront of such developments in the EFL as Phil Parkinson targets the experience and quality required to consolidate in a division which will include the likes of Leicester City, Southampton and Ipswich Town, in what is the North Wales side's first taste of second-tier football in 43 years.

Despite Plymouth's two-season stint in the division coming to an end with a 2-1 defeat to eventual champions Leeds United last weekend, Hardie has constantly emerged with great praise for his performances, which have seen him hit double figures in each of his last four seasons, including 22 strikes in the Championship as Argyle endured mixed results when it came to fighting against relegation.

Don Goodman backs Wrexham AFC to seal Ryan Hardie agreement heading into Championship

It has been reported that both Wrexham and runaway third-tier leaders, Birmingham City, are expected to spend big money this summer in order to compete straight after promotion, with the striking department at the Stok Cae Ras already linked with an abundance of new additions.

Patrick Bamford has seen his name re-emerge in the frame in a potentially audacious move for the out-of-contract Leeds United forward, whilst Darren Witcoop recently reported that the club see Hardie and Cardiff City forward, Callum Robinson, as two further options with a wealth of Championship experience.

Despite suffering relegation at their respective clubs, the duo hit 22 goals between them last season, and speaking exclusively to FLW, the aforementioned Goodman believes the potential signing of the 28-year-old Scot would represent shrewd business.

"I'm not surprised that Ryan Hardie is being linked with a move, particularly to Wrexham," he began. "Phil Parkinson and Wrexham love a striker, don't they.

"And, despite Plymouth being relegated, Ryan Hardie was certainly a standout," Goodman added. "10 goals and three assists in a team that, obviously, got relegated and in the main, struggled to score goals is a very commendable effort.

"But, he's all action, isn't he? He's mobile, he's big, he's a willing runner and he can finish.

"I think, if the possibility arrived for him then he'd have a decision to make. Because, it clearly feels like he loves Plymouth Argyle," Goodman explained.

"But, the opportunity to continue at Championship level might be one that he might find difficult to turn down."

As Goodman alluded to, there are plenty of strikers with varying levels of quality and experience currently on Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's payroll, which is ESTIMATED to be the third-highest in League One behind Birmingham and Huddersfield Town, with the attackers taking up £4.2m of an overall season figure that stands at £10.76m.

Many will be intrigued to see how club-record signing, Sam Smith, fares in the second-tier for the first time after becoming one of the most prolific strikers in the division below, whilst Jay Rodriguez and Steven Fletcher have been there, done it and worn the t-shirt in the Championship for the likes of Burnley and Sheffield Wednesday.

Therefore, the addition of the man who knocked Premier League champions, Liverpool, out of the FA Cup in February could see Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer's time at the Racecourse reach its conclusion, regardless of Parkinson stating that the duo who failed to make a league appearance from February 2nd onwards will be a part of the club's pre-season, as such wages could be reinvested into strengthening elsewhere.