"Definitely a shock" - Claim made on Wrexham AFC, Burnley transfer agreement | OneFootball

The former Burnley and Southampton forward's transfer made waves through the EFL, becoming perhaps the most high profile name in League One.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

As the winter window drew to a close, Wrexham showed off the extent of their current pulling power, acquiring former England international Jay Rodriguez from Championship heavyweights Burnley on January 31st.

The 35-year-old's arrival in North Wales sent shockwaves through League One, as an already esteemed Red Dragons configuration had been bolstered by a forward with over 250 Premier League appearances to his name.

Wrexham supporters excited for "wealth of experience" brought by Rodriguez

Football League World asked resident Wrexham fan pundit, Liam Grice, whether the arrival of Jay Rodriguez came as a surprise, and if supporters were happy with his acquisition.

"Signing Jay Rodriguez was definitely a shock. I mean, I never expected Wrexham to be signing anybody from a club like Burnley quite yet, if I'm being completely honest.

"I know he's on the older side, but he brings a wealth of experience that I don't think anybody else, maybe bar Steven Fletcher, brings to the team.

"He's certainly good enough to still score goals at this level. I know we paid a transfer fee for him which was a bit shocking, too, but if Phil Parkinson rates the player, then I have full faith in Rodriguez to come in and deliver.

"I expect him and Sam Smith to start together for the foreseeable future."

Making his English league debut as early as 2007, Burnley-born Rodriguez has, until now, never featured below the countries top-two tiers.

While his age dictates that we have seen the best of the forward, having scored in the Premier League as recently as December 2023, it is reasonable to assume that League One may be below his current abilities. However, having failed to score on debut against a relegation-bound Crawley town, the factuality of this remains to be seen.

Wealth in forward options may mean curtains for Paul Mullin at Wrexham

A club rising through the football pyramid as rapidly as Wrexham inevitably outgrows talent along the way, though among perhaps the most poignant talking points in and around the Racecourse Ground this season has been the club's abundant preperation for life without Paul Mullin.

Having only joined in 2021, the Scouse striker has been the inarguable poster boy for the early years of Ryan Reynoulds and Rob McElhenney's reign, scoring an incredible 105 goals in his three seasons for the club as they secured back-to-back promotions.

However, injury issues have blighted Mullin's efforts to renew his star-man status in the third-tier, scoring just two of Wrexham's 43 League One goals thus far, prompting speculation that the former Cambridge man had finally faced a level he was unable to dominate in.

The arrivals of Reading's Sam Smith and the aforementioned Rodriguez suggest that despite Mullin's cruciality in their ascent thus far, he is no longer an important part of Phil Parkinson's plans, and may soon be forced to call time on his already legendary stint in North Wales.

The high-profile signing of Jay Rodriguez is no doubt a statement of intent from a club who want all around them to know that they intend to be a Championship club next season. With the likes of Birmingham, Wycombe and Stockport County doing their damndest to prevent them, it truly is shaping up to be an historic League One promotion race.