Wrexham Set For Transfer Disappointment As Reported Target Makes Key Decision

Wrexham are ready to play in the third tier of English football for the first time since 2005, and fans are anticipating a slew of high-profile additions.

Many players are being linked with a move to the Red Dragons, including former England striker Jay Rodriguez. However, the Welsh team will miss out on the goal, as he has signed a new contract with newly relegated Burnley in the Championship.

Wrexham are not the only club linked with a move for the 34-year-old; Huddersfield were also reported to be interested in bringing him to League One, while Stoke City were also keeping an eye on the situation.

Despite the Clarets’ recent relegation and the departure of manager Vincent Kompany, Rodrugues has decided to stay put.

“It’s a great feeling and a real privilege to represent Burnley, my hometown club,” he said after signing a new one-year contract. “Being offered another year was a proud moment and there was no way I could say no.”

Wrexham’s Hollywood ties and vast resources drew some reasonably famous players to the Y Cae Ras, notably Ollie Palmer, who dropped two divisions, and Paul Mullen, who did the same. Recently, Irish forward James McClean has appeared for them at a level below where a player of his caliber may excel. However, Jay Rodriguez hasn’t followed suit.

He progressed through Burnley’s youth, scoring 41 goals before joining Premier League club Southampton. While in the south coast, he received a call-up to England and played against Chile in 2013. Unfortunately, an ACL injury forced him out of the 2014/15 season and eliminated him from World Cup contention, terminating his brief England career.

After a two-season stint with West Brom, he came home and helped Burnley return to the Premier League for the first time in 2022/23, albeit he was unable to keep the club from relegation for the second time in three years this summer.

Writer’s View

Wrexham must have thought this was impossible. There’s nothing they could offer Rodriguez that would entice him to stay; he’s earned his money in the Premier League, and dropping two levels for money isn’t worth the risk at this point. Palmer and Mullen, who will not have earned much as lower-league journeymen, will find the attraction obvious, but Rodriguez will not. If Stoke City’s interest had been genuine, this may have been a bigger blow.

However, if Rodriguez is already situated in Burnley, that relocation would have been inconvenient. Again, why make the 150-mile round trip to training every day and leave a club where he is revered? It is not going to happen.

Wrexham may outspend many of its opponents this season, but not on a player of Rodriguez’s caliber who has nothing left to prove.