Bolton Wanderers have emerged as the leading candidate in the race for Wrexham forward Ryan Hardie.
Whites boss Steven Schumacher has been extremely busy in the last few days, and signing his former player would complete a new-look Wanderers attack.
Pete O’Rourke has said that Bolton are the frontrunners to get this deal done, though there is still plenty of work required to make that a reality before Monday’s deadline.
The former Rangers forward enjoyed two prolific League One seasons with former club Plymouth Argyle, scoring 29 times as the Pilgrims reached the Championship. Hardie managed double figures in his final two years at Home Park before completing a move to the Red Dragons this summer, after the sides switched divisions.
But his move, which looked to be a coup at £700,000, has been anything but that. In North Wales this term, Hardie has played just 17 minutes of league football since mid-September. In four starts across all competitions, the 28-year-old has scored once, coming in a Carabao Cup tie against Preston North End back in August.
The Scotsman made his name north of the border, hitting impressive numbers during loan spells away from Ibrox. In the Scottish Championship, he bagged 21 times in 55 matches for Raith Rovers and Livingston, before becoming a regular feature in the lower tiers of the EFL with Blackpool and Plymouth.
Bolton have typically played with a single striker this season, meaning he would be expected to compete with Sam Dalby for the centre forward position. Dalby’s brace in midweek against Burton Albion made it three goals in five games for the former Wrexham man, who has started four successive third-tier matches.
But Hardie has occasionally played off the right, and Schumacher may look to shake things up following their latest signings.
Bolton Launching Promotion Bid With Big Statements
After recovering from almost going out of business in the past seven years, dropping from the Championship into League Two, Bolton have found the latest step in returning to their past glories extremely difficult.
A consistent feature in the Premier League at the start of the century, enjoying two seasons of European football, Wanderers have flirted with the League One Play-Offs in each of their four seasons since promotion from the fourth-tier.
Two heartbreaking attempts in the end-of-season competition have left Trotters supporters desperate to escape from the third tier. In the last few days, they have stepped up their ambitions, attempting to capitalise on what is undoubtedly a weaker division this year.
Rob Apter has joined on loan from Charlton Athletic, after starring for Blackpool last term. Another former Addick, Corey Blackett-Taylor, has also signed from Derby County until the end of the season. An incoming was always expected to cover the loss of Amario Cozier-Duberry to injury. And midfielder Aaron Morley has also left the Toughsheet Community Stadium to re-join Wycombe Wanderers permanently, following his successful loan stint at Adams Park last term.
But these three incomings, if Hardie does indeed complete his move to the north-west, could give Schumacher a completely new front three. Unpredictability is a massive factor in breaking down some of the more difficult teams in the league. Therefore, third-place Wanderers should massively benefit from the plethora of options they now possess in attack.