How Plymouth Argyle plan to replace Ryan Hardie after Wrexham AFC move - it involves Portsmouth | OneFootball

The Pilgrims have already identified who they want to replace their former prolific striker this summer.

Plymouth Argyle have identified Portsmouth striker Christian Saydee as their top target to replace Ryan Hardie after his move to Wrexham was confirmed.

The 28-year-old brought his five-and-a-half-year association with Argyle to an end on Monday, as his move to the Red Dragons was announced.

It's understood that Wrexham have triggered a release clause in Hardie's contract, amounting to a fee in the region of £700k.

The former Scotland youth international made over 240 appearances for the Pilgrims, with his 74 goals placing him 12th in the club's all-time top goalscorer's chart.

However, it appears that Plymouth have moved quickly to identify who they want to replace their prolific centre-forward this summer: Portsmouth's Christian Saydee.

That's according to a post from journalist Darren Witcoop via his X account on Tuesday.

Indeed, Witcoop reveals that Argyle does have a list of potential replacement options lined up, but that the 23-year-old Pompey forward is at the top of said shortlist.

It was reported by Football Insider on Monday that League One side Wigan Athletic had also joined Plymouth in the race for Saydee's signature, with both permanent and loan deals being discussed.

An AFC Bournemouth academy graduate, Saydee spent the early years of his career bouncing around various loan moves, both in non-league and EFL football.

Poole Town, Weymouth, Burton Albion and Shrewsbury Town respectively have all sampled his talents, before his time with the Cherries finally came to a permanent end in the 2023 summer transfer window when he signed for Portsmouth.

Christian Saydee would be a divisive choice to replace Ryan Hardie among Plymouth Agyle supporters

Hardie was a number nine in every sense of the description for Plymouth Argyle.

Indeed, every single one of his 22 league goals over his last two seasons have been from inside the 18-yard box, with the Scotsman always looking to stay in central areas and exploit space in-between central defenders.

Saydee, on the other hand, isn't a true out-and-out number nine, and has instead taken on the role of being a more versatile forward/attacking midfielder from his time with Portsmouth so far.

Whether it be from out wide, playing behind the number nine or as a lone striker, the young forward has operated in a multitude of different attacking roles at Fratton Park, but he hasn't yet been able to prove himself as being a prolific goalscorer in the EFL, unlike Hardie.

With just seven goals during his 2022/23 loan spell with Shrewsbury being his best goal tally from an individual season during his career so far, it's fair to assume that there will be a significant amount of skepticism among the Home Park faithful that he would be a true replacement for Hardie.

However, at just 23, there is evidently plenty of scope for further improvement from the young forward, and perhaps a drop down to League One level could see him really flourish from a goal contribution perspective.

Filling Hardie's boots will be a tough ask for anyone tasked with doing exactly that moving forward, but Saydee doesn't possess the goalscoring track record that will instantly fill Argyle supporters with confidence that he would be up to that challenge.