Wrexham are looking to make a second big-money signing in the space of a week with a move for ex-Premier League forward Jay Rodriguez.
The ambitious League One side could make the Burnley star their third January signing as they gun for a third successive promotion.
Rodriguez has appeared 22 times for the Championship side this season, including ten starts, and has two goals to his name.
The frontman is out of contract at Turf Moor in the summer, having signed a one-year extension in June 2024, but could be set to leave earlier than planned.
It is claimed he would drop his wages to £15k-a-week if he were to join Wrexham – a big reduction from his current salary, believed to be around £40k-a-week.
Ryan Longman was the Welsh club’s first signing in January but their biggest statement to date is a club-record £2million move for Reading striker Sam Smith, which is close to completion.
It’s the first time Wrexham will pay seven figures for a player.
Wrexham is poised to beat a number of Championship and European clubs to Smith’s signature, talkSPORT understands.
It is clear Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are willing to splash the cash in order to reach the Premier League promised land.
While it was a lofty goal indeed when they took over with the club in the National League, it now looks within their reach after securing immediate promotion from League Two last season and launching another promotion push this term.
If a move to Wales does materialise it will be Rodriguez’s second time leaving the Clarets, the first being in July 2012 to Southampton.
He stayed five years at the Saints where he made 126 appearances with 35 goals and 11 assists.
A move to West Bromwich Albion then followed where he played one season of Premier League football until they were relegated.
And after one year in the Championship he returned to Burnley.
He has played 310 times for the Lancashire outfit with 76 goals and 24 assists to his name.
Wrexham 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 five goals from 31 appearances across all competitions.
Ollie Palmer has also battled to find form, with just three league goals to his name.
The addition of Smith and Rodriguez would provide a much-needed spark up top as Phil Parkinson‘s side aim for automatic promotion.
They sit in third, six points behind Wycombe and eight behind first place Birmingham City who have two games in hand.
Wrexham are winless in three matches, though – including shocking losses to 15th place Stevenage and rock-bottom Shrewsbury.
