Sheffield Wednesday named Xisco Munoz as their new boss yesterday.
It was a frantic near-three week period between Darren Moore’s shock exit and Munoz’s arrival. It now allows the Owls to press on with their summer transfer plans with the club in need of a lot of recruits to ensure they have the depth to last next season.
Munoz is best known for his time in charge of Watford. He was at the club between December 2020 and October 2021, having helped steer the Hornets to promotion to the Premier League during the 2020/21 season.
And the Spaniard will no doubt be limited to free and loan signings this summer with the Owls not looking likely to spend big – if at all. And there’s two of his former Watford comrades available for free transfer this summer – Craig Cathcart and Troy Deeney.
Could Munoz reunite with Watford comrades at Wednesday?
One thing is certain – Sheffield Wednesday need new players this summer. They’ve made good use of the transfer market in recent years but with no Moore and no David Downes in place, what the club’s transfer business will look like this summer remains to be seen.
But Cathcart and Deeney would add a huge amount of Championship experience and quality to the Owls’ first-team. Cathcart, 34, was let go by Watford at the end of last season following a nine-year spell at Vicarage Road, in which he made 262 total appearances earning promotion from the Championship twice in that time.
Deeney, now 35, was with Watford for 11 years making 419 total appearances with 140 goals in that time. He was also part of the two promotion-winning teams along with Cathcart and the released Birmingham City man was quick to congratulate Munoz on his Wednesday appointment last night, prompting online speculation that Munoz could bring in in the veteran striker this summer.
The pair are certainly in the latter years of their careers. But Deeney enjoyed a good season with Birmingham City last time round and his release was something of a surprise. Cathcart would add experience and depth to the back line, and in him and Deeney, Munoz would be getting two players he can rely on.
It’s a testing month ahead for the Owls but free moves for Cathcart and/or Deeney might be shrewd moves.