Sheffield Wednesday had been planning to offload Jordan Rhodes in the January transfer window, according to Alan Nixon.
Rhodes had only appeared four times for Wednesday in the Championship this season prior to last month’s win against Brentford.
But an impressive second-half cameo led to his first and second league starts of the campaign in the Owls’ subsequent fixtures against Derby County and Nottingham Forest.
Rhodes marked the latter of those outings with a perfect first-half hat-trick, sparking fresh hope that the £8 million club-record recruit can finally make something of himself at Hillsborough.
Sheffield Wednesday’s Jordan Rhodes. (Photo by Tim Markland/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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And his latest showing, Nixon claims, has caused some confusion ahead of business resuming next month.
Asked if Liverpool’s Rhian Brewster could be joining Wednesday on loan, the experienced reporter – whose work is commonly found in the Sun on Sunday – replied:
Rhodes getting a chance has caused a bit of confusion to the whole thing. https://t.co/pkQcBJ4jrx
— Alan Nixon (@reluctantnicko) December 16, 2019
And on the prospect of a reunion between the Owls boss Garry Monk and his former Birmingham City striker Che Adams, who has struggled since his £15m summer move to Southampton, Nixon said:
Adams would be wanted by a few if he was available. A hell of a comedown by Southampton if they do that all the same. https://t.co/deYAy0JoLe
— Alan Nixon (@reluctantnicko) December 16, 2019
Asked about the positions in which Wednesday are looking to strengthen, he replied:
Striker was one. But not sure where the return of Rhodes leaves all that. He was going to be gone to help balance the books. https://t.co/04kKHLxdDe
— Alan Nixon (@reluctantnicko) December 16, 2019
It was cover for three main areas. Will deffo need to rest some occasionally. Key men play more often than not. https://t.co/ajvT8bN2HF
— Alan Nixon (@reluctantnicko) December 16, 2019
Wednesday could look to move on one or both of Sam Winnall or Fernando Forestieri if a new centre forward remains on Monk’s January agenda.
Both players have been used sparingly since the 40-year-old’s September appointment and are out of contract next summer.
Rhodes spent the whole of last season on loan to Norwich City, who tried and failed to sign him on a permanent basis ahead of the campaign.