Wrexham AFC icon departs - Salford City, Port Vale & Rotherham United must consider swooping | OneFootball

Paul Mullin is leaving Wrexham this summer, and these three League Two sides should be looking to sign him for free

After five years and 110 goals, Paul Mullin is set to leave Wrexham this summer after his contract was ended by mutual consent.

The 31-year-old is heavily credited with the club's rise from the National League into League One in consecutive seasons, and became a real fans' favourite in the early years of the Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds reign as co-owners.

Phil Parkinson's squad eventually outgrew Mullin during the 2024/25 term in League One, with his final league appearance for the club coming in January 2025. The arrivals of Jay Rodriguez and Sam Smith that month effectively deemed him surplus to requirements.

After a year out on loan in the third tier with Wigan Athletic and Bradford City last season, the club and the frontman have agreed to part ways, as Wrexham strive to better their seventh-placed finish in the Championship this coming season.

It's been a difficult couple of years in League One for Mullin, scoring just seven times in a combined 55 appearances for three clubs, but there's no denying that the 31-year-old is as automatic as you can get in front of goal in League Two.

With 56 goals in his last two campaigns at the level, here are three fourth-tier sides who should be looking to benefit from his scoring prowess and bring him in this summer.

Salford City

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Salford City's pursuit of League One football came the closest it's ever been last season. The Ammies finished a point off the automatic promotion places, and then fell in the play-off final against Notts County.

They've gone shopping in third-tier clubs this summer as they look to get even better under new boss Peter Cklamovski, with the likes of Will Norris, Will Aimson, Joe Powell and Abraham Odoh arriving at the Peninsula Stadium already this summer.

Adding Mullin would strengthen what has already been a solid transfer window thus far and would bolster an already impressive strike force which includes Ryan Graydon and Daniel Udoh.

Salford would likely have the most money out of any League Two side to offer him, and if he can earn close to what he was at Wrexham at his next club, the Greater Manchester side could be an apt destination.

Rotherham United

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Rotherham United have had a very slow start to their off-season, as it only took them until this past Tuesday to hire a new manager in Alex Bruce, despite last season ending close to two months ago.

The Millers are beginning life back in League Two for the first time since the 2012/13 campaign, and they have a lot to do between now and mid-August to ensure that they can start the season on the front foot.

Sam Nombe is expected to leave before then, given his clear League One-level qualities that he showcased at the AESSEAL New York Stadium when fit over the past two seasons in spite of his side's struggles, so head of football Steve McClaren will be on the hunt for a new striker to replace him.

Mullin wouldn't cost the club anything, allowing them to reinvest elsewhere, and if he could rediscover his scoring form in the fourth tier that he's exhibited in the past, then it would be a statement of intent in what Rotherham hope to be a short stay in League Two.

Port Vale

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Similarly to Rotherham, Port Vale are beginning life back in the fourth tier once again, after their League One return last season ended after just one year.

Vale have recently bucked the trend of relegated third-tier sides struggling to regroup and mount a promotion push immediately, as they were promoted at the first time of asking in their last League Two campaign in 2024/25. Adding Mullin would go a long way to bouncing back once again.

It's only early on in pre-season, but the forward line at Vale Park is looking rather thin currently. Jon Brady only has two senior strikers on his books in Jayden Stockley and Ben Waine.

Stockley turns 33 in September and only scored 11 times the last time that Vale were in League Two, and while Waine showcased scoring prowess in cup competitions last year, only three of his eight goals came in the third tier, as he started just 14 times.

The New Zealand international may find more starts coming his way now that the Valiants are in League Two again, but the reality is that he has yet to score more than three league goals in a single league season since he made the move to the EFL with Plymouth Argyle in 2023.

It'd be a risk to put all the goalscoring demands on him, and Mullin could come in and help take those away from the 25-year-old.