Exclusive: Ryan Hardie transfer twist emerges at Wrexham AFC | OneFootball

Ryan Hardie is considering a potential departure from Wrexham in the January transfer window, Football League World has learned...

Wrexham striker Ryan Hardie is considering a swift exit from the STōK Cae Ras in pursuit of regular first-team football following a difficult start to life with Phil Parkinson's side, Football League World can exclusively reveal.

The Red Dragons have gradually adjusted to the demands of the Championship after achieving three successive promotions under Parkinson. Wrexham find themselves positioned in 14th place ahead of Wednesday evening's home fixture against Bristol City amid a six-match unbeaten run, in which they have taken points from Ipswich Town, Middlesbrough and runaway league leaders Coventry City.

It comes following yet a free-spending summer transfer window, with Wrexham continuing to make little secret of their ambition and financial muscle in the market. Wrexham spent at least £30 million throughout the summer, which included the eye-catching arrivals of Nathan Broadhead, Liberato Cacace, Callum Doyle, Lewis O'Brien and Ben Sheaf.

A number of Wrexham's recruits have hit the ground running in North Wales, too, with O'Brien and prolific pair Kieffer Moore and Josh Windass all impressing in the early stages of the season.

However, Hardie has endured a less-than-ideal start to his Wrexham career — which could be over before truly beginning.

Wrexham AFC's Ryan Hardie considering January transfer exit

Sources close to Football League World have exclusively disclosed that Hardie is weighing up the possibility of leaving Wrexham as early as January in a bid to gain regular minutes elsewhere, having struggled for game time thus far under Parkinson.

The striker joined Wrexham for a reported £700,000 from Plymouth Argyle in the summer following the Pilgrims' relegation to League One, putting pen to paper on a three-year deal. The deal, which saw Hardie become Wrexham's first summer signing, appeared to represent something of a coup for the upwardly-mobile Welsh outfit, with the Scotsman having amassed double digits for goals in each of his last four campaigns at Home Park.

Two of those seasons were spent in the Championship, too, but Hardie has failed to kick on following last term's 12-goal haul across all competitions for a relegated Argyle side. The 28-year-old is currently fourth choice in Parkinson's pecking order behind Moore, Windass and Sam Smith, and has been limited to just two starts in league action.

Indeed, Hardie has racked up just 167 minutes of Championship football across five goalless appearances and has not started in the league since the start of September, with his only goal coming in a 3-2 EFL Cup second-round victory at Preston North End.

It appears as though Hardie is unhappy with his current situation at the STōK Cae Ras, having been usurped by the late-window arrival of seven-goal forward Moore.

EFL clubs monitoring Ryan Hardie, Wrexham AFC situation

FLW also understands that a number of undisclosed EFL clubs are casting their eyes over potential developments involving Hardie at Wrexham, with the ex-Plymouth talisman likely to have no shortage of suitors if he does have his heart set on a swift exit.

For the time being, at least, it remains unclear as to who these clubs are. However, one would imagine that a cluster of sides towards the lower reaches of the Championship may just be preparing to swoop for Hardie, who has proven himself as a reliable goalscorer at this level.

Meanwhile, it would also be little surprise to see promotion-chasing League One clubs joining the race for his services in the coming weeks.

Hardie scored 13 goals to help Argyle to the third-tier title over Kieran McKenna's Ipswich in the 2022/23 season, and would likely be a huge hit in League One if a rather-ambitious deal could be sealed.