Wrexham AFC told to avoid one Jay Stansfield-esque transfer deal this summer | OneFootball

FLW's Wrexham fan pundit is unsure that buying another striker from League One is the smartest piece of business this summer

Wrexham fell just short in their play-off pursuit, being usurped by Hull City after they bettered their result on the final day of the Championship season.

There's been a mixed reception as to whether this year has been a success or not for the Red Dragons.

Given the calibre of players they brought in throughout the season, the likes of Nathan Broadhead, Kieffer Moore, Ben Sheaf and Lewis O'Brien, just to name a few, their squad was arguably good enough to break into the top six.

But, after three consecutive promotions from the National League to the Championship, the more realistic section of their fanbase will have been looking to just establish themselves in the second tier this year, rather than go for an unprecedented fourth straight promotion.

Nevertheless, the reality is that Wrexham are starting next season in the same division as last year for the first time since the 2022/23 campaign, and off the back of the highest league finish in their history.

Now, it's about improving an already top-six level squad to make a play-off finish a reality.

Wrexham fan pundit gives verdict on Dom Ballard reports

Darren Whitcoop has reported that Phil Parkinson's side are admirers of the reigning League One Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year and top scorer, Dom Ballard, who has just finished a breakthrough year leading the line for Leyton Orient.

With 23 goals for a struggling Orient side this season, it's understandable why Championship clubs are already sniffing around Brisbane Road for his services.

It would, of course, represent an expensive capture for any club this summer, with a previous report from Alan Nixon having claimed that Orient will use the £15 million fee which took Jay Stansfield to Birmingham City from Fulham in 2024 as a benchmark for the sort of price-tag which they may place for Ballard.

But, Wrexham fan pundit, Liam Grice, doesn't feel that the 21-year-old should be on his club's radar, especially given the sheer number of strikers who are already under contract at the Stok Cae Ras.

"He's a very good player, but we do have about seven strikers on the books," he said.

"I know that Ryan Hardie may move on, we're expecting Paul Mullin to be released, and there'll be rumours about the others, and don't get me wrong, Dom Ballard is a good striker.

"I was aware of him when we were in the division. He's been performing at a high level for a number of years now and has had a very good season this year, but I think we need to be signing from this division or above."

Should Wrexham be targeting Dom Ballard this summer? Let us know in the comments.

Grice believes that, for Wrexham to truly kick on and be a side who can be in and around the automatic promotion conversation next season alongside some strong opposition, they need to be bringing in top Championship and fringe Premier League players this summer.

"It's good to recruit from below, but we need proven Championship or ex-Premier League players now for us to make the next step," the fan pundit explained.

"That, and with the number of strikers we have at the club right now, I'm not sure if it's the best place to put our resources."

Dom Ballard would be smart to swerve potential Wrexham approaches

Leyton Orient will face a great struggle to keep Ballard on their books this summer, and an approach from Wrexham could present the best financial package for the exciting 21-year-old, given the spending power the Red Dragons have.

However, we've seen over the past year that the Stok Cae Ras is not a place for strikers to come and excel, given how saturated the position is.

As Grice said, Ryan Hardie barely got a look in during the first half of the season. He was loaned out in January and may find himself looking for a new club again this summer.

The striker additions this past January, Bailey Cadamarteri, a fellow young, exciting frontman, and Davis Keillor-Dunn, a fellow League One bagsman, have nine substitute appearances between them in the Championship at the Stok Cae Ras since joining.

While every squad needs quality backups, Ballard's standards are higher than being a good option off the bench, and if he were to move to the Championship this summer, it should be to a team that will guarantee him starts.

So, while Wrexham should likely be looking a little further up than League One this summer for transfer targets if they are to mount a promotion charge next season, Ballard himself should stay far away from the links, too.