Sheffield Wednesday seem to have two clear January transfer priorities; a new striker and a new central midfielder.
For Sheffield Wednesday, a new striker was always the aim this month, and whilst Ike Ugbo has joined on loan, Danny Rohl looks poised to bring in another with three of Wednesday’s current strikers being linked with moves away; Josh Windass, Michael Smith, and Lee Gregory.
But it now seems clear that Rohl wants a central midfilder too.
The Owls offloaded Tyreeq Bakinson and John Buckley at the start of the month and have since been linked with the likes of Conor Coventry, Darko Gyabi, and Isaac Hayden; Coventry and Gyabi have sealed alternative moves whilst Hayden is in talks with Preston.
Now half way through the January transfer window, with little over two weeks of the month left, Rohl and Sheffield Wednesday are facing a race against the clock to bolster their side, with Ugbo and James Beadle the only signings so far.
Danny Rohl may have dropped the ball with midfield exits
Rohl and Head of Recruitment Kevin Beadell may have been expecting to beat the likes of Charlton Athletic to Coventry, and maybe even Plymouth Argyle to the loan signing of Gyabi from Leeds United.
And whilst there’s a chance that Hayden still signs, a move to Preston is looking more likely at this stage, potentially adding up to three central midfield targets that the Owls have missed out on already this month.
Rohl then may eventually rue Buckley’s return to parent club Blackburn Rovers and Bakinson’s loan move to Charlton; especially so after Bakinson went on to impress in his Charlton debut last weekend.
Whilst Hillsborough is a much more attractive place for players to join either permanently or on loan compared to last summer, the Owls still remain in a perilous position in the league, and so attracting top players to the club this month will be tough.
Sheffield Wednesday may have to lower their search criteria
There’s nothing wrong with targeting top players like Hayden, or young stars like Coventry and Gyabi.
But Sheffield Wednesday may have quickly learned this month that, despite their upturn in form under Rohl, there’s still better options out there for players.
Coventry may have joined Charlton for security of game time or for club security, with Wednesday having gone through their share of off-field controversy in the past few months.
The Owls then might be better off poaching players from the lower leagues or abroad.
Loan deals still looks like Wednesday’s best bet this month though and that could mean that they’re forced to wait until later in the month, when clubs have done their own business and can then look at loaning out unwanted players.
It could be a frantic deadline day for Rohl and Sheffield Wednesday. And given Wednesday’s league position, new signings this month remains paramount for the club.
But where the midfield is concerned, Rohl will be praying that the earlier decisions to offload Buckley and Bakinson don’t come back to haunt him.