Wrexham set to complete club-record signing as they beat Championship and European clubs to ex-Man United forward
Wrexham are poised to beat a number of Championship and European clubs to the signature of Reading forward Sam Smith, talkSPORT understands. Smith is set to join the Welsh side for a club-record fee of £2million and will to undergo a medical in the next 24 hours. Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are set to break the bank for a new strikerGetty The 26-year-old first joined Reading from Manchester United in 2014 as an academy prospect and made his senior debut three years later in a Carabao Cup tie. Smith was sent out on loan six times while on the Royals’ books before sealing a permanent move to Cambridge United in 2021 on a free transfer. He scored 35 times in 109 appearances for the U’s before sealing a return to Reading in July 2023. The forward smashed home 15 goals in 35 League One fixtures last term as Reading finished 17th, nine points clear of relegation. Had it not been for six points being deducted for varying financial missteps, the Royals would have only finished two places higher. Smith has continued his solid form this season with 11 goals in 25 league games, including four in his last seven. A number of clubs were enamoured with Smith thanks to his goalscoring exploits but Wrexham blew the interested parties out of the water with their big offer. The £2m fee for Smith marks the first time Wrexham have ever paid seven figures for a player. Young forward Mo Faal is Wrexham’s record signing at present having joined last summer from West Brom for £500,000 in the final days of the window. Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson will hope Smith’s imminent arrival can improve the club’s fortunes in front of goal. Reading forward Smith sits fourth in the race for League One’s golden bootGetty Midfielder Elliot Lee, defender Max Cleworth and veteran striker Steven Fletcher all have six goals in League One, the most of any individual at the club. Paul Mullin, who scored goals for fun in the National League and League Two, has struggled to make the step up and has just four goals from 31 appearances across all competitions. Ollie Palmer has also battled to find form, with three league goals to his name. The addition of Smith would provide a much-needed spark up top as Parkinson’s side look to maintain pace with Birmingham City and Wycombe Wanderers at the top of League One. Wrexham have lost ground on the top two with three defeats in their last five. Parkinson was especially scathing after the club’s latest setback in which they lost 3-2 to 15th-placed Stevenage on Tuesday night. Wrexham boss Parkinson will hope Smith is the spark to ignite his team’s attackGetty The loss brought an end to Wrexham’s unbeaten run at The Racecourse as Parkinson bemoaned ‘there wasn’t enough fight’ from his troops. Wrexham’s defeat to Stevenage kept them third as they sit on 52 points. Birmingham lead the third tier on 60 points while Wycombe sit second on 58 points, although the former have two games in hand over their rivals. Parkinson will hope Wrexham can pick up their first win in four matches when they travel to take on Crawley Town on Saturday.
Wrexham are poised to beat a number of Championship and European clubs to the signature of Reading forward Sam Smith, talkSPORT understands.
Smith is set to join the Welsh side for a club-record fee of £2million and will to undergo a medical in the next 24 hours.
The 26-year-old first joined Reading from Manchester United in 2014 as an academy prospect and made his senior debut three years later in a Carabao Cup tie.
Smith was sent out on loan six times while on the Royals’ books before sealing a permanent move to Cambridge United in 2021 on a free transfer.
He scored 35 times in 109 appearances for the U’s before sealing a return to Reading in July 2023.
The forward smashed home 15 goals in 35 League One fixtures last term as Reading finished 17th, nine points clear of relegation.
Had it not been for six points being deducted for varying financial missteps, the Royals would have only finished two places higher.
Smith has continued his solid form this season with 11 goals in 25 league games, including four in his last seven.
A number of clubs were enamoured with Smith thanks to his goalscoring exploits but Wrexham blew the interested parties out of the water with their big offer.
The £2m fee for Smith marks the first time Wrexham have ever paid seven figures for a player.
Young forward Mo Faal is Wrexham’s record signing at present having joined last summer from West Brom for £500,000 in the final days of the window.
Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson will hope Smith’s imminent arrival can improve the club’s fortunes in front of goal.
Midfielder Elliot Lee, defender Max Cleworth and veteran striker Steven Fletcher all have six goals in League One, the most of any individual at the club.
Paul Mullin, who scored goals for fun in the National League and League Two, has struggled to make the step up and has just four goals from 31 appearances across all competitions.
Ollie Palmer has also battled to find form, with three league goals to his name.
The addition of Smith would provide a much-needed spark up top as Parkinson’s side look to maintain pace with Birmingham City and Wycombe Wanderers at the top of League One.
Wrexham have lost ground on the top two with three defeats in their last five.
Parkinson was especially scathing after the club’s latest setback in which they lost 3-2 to 15th-placed Stevenage on Tuesday night.
The loss brought an end to Wrexham’s unbeaten run at The Racecourse as Parkinson bemoaned ‘there wasn’t enough fight’ from his troops.
Wrexham’s defeat to Stevenage kept them third as they sit on 52 points.
Birmingham lead the third tier on 60 points while Wycombe sit second on 58 points, although the former have two games in hand over their rivals.
Parkinson will hope Wrexham can pick up their first win in four matches when they travel to take on Crawley Town on Saturday.
