The summer transfer window was a busy one for Sheffield Wednesday. But gaps remain.
Sheffield Wednesday signed 11 new players during the summer transfer window.
And the Owls were linked with a couple of names on deadline day, though nobody eventually signed.
Manager Danny Rohl has a much-improved first-team squad compared to last season, despite what’s been a poor start to the 2024/25 season.
But there seems to remain one or two positions in the team which could definitely do with some bolstering, mainly at centre-back.
Bambo Diaby’s departure has made the centre-back position very light all of a sudden, and with Dominic Iorfa carrying a small injury, the position becomes even lighter.
Di’Shon Bernard and Michael Ihiekwe started during the 3-0 defeat v Millwall last time round, and whilst the two are good players, a centre-back signing during the summer seemed key.
Rohl can still make signings. He’ll have to look towards the free agent market though, and hope that they can quickly get up to match speed.
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Liam Cooper could be perfect Sheffield Wednesday signing right now
One centre-back who’s currently without club is Liam Cooper.
The 33-year-old former Leeds United captain was let go at the end of last season, and recently missed out on a move to Hull City.
Scotland international Cooper has 207 appearances to his name in the Championship, as well as one promotion.
He was a key component of the Leeds side that flourished under Marcelo Bielsa in the Championship, with said team being one that liked to play out from the back like Sheffield Wednesday do now.
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The stats prove why Liam Cooper could flourish at Sheffield Wednesday
Cooper played a bit part role at Leeds United last season, starting just eight times and often filling in wherever necessary.
But the centre-back still averaged some decent numbers; 0.9 interceptions-per-game, 0.7 tackles-per-game, 1.8 clearances-per-game, and 3 balls recovered-per-game.
That’s compared to Bernard who last season averaged 1.1 interceptions-per-game, 1.5 tackles-per-game, 3 clearances-per-game, and 4.4 balls recovered-per-game, while playing a lot more football and doing a lot more defending as well.
What’s more is that Cooper managed more accurate passes-per-game than Bernard last season (41.2 compared to 33.4), and so it certainly seems like Cooper can do the defensive work, and also compliment the passing style of play at Sheffield Wednesday.
The Owls have little to lose with a potential short-term deal for Cooper, who’s likely based not too far away from Sheffield having been with Leeds for so long.
A move could prove to be a very shrewd one.