Sheffield Wednesday now have less than 48 hours to complete their summer transfer business.
The Owls already wrapped up a loan deal for Shea Charles earlier this week, but they are still expected to push for further additions.
It had previously appeared that Sheffield Wednesday were eager to sign a new striker, after missing out on Mark O’Mahony to Portsmouth.
There doesn’t seem to have been any further progress in their pursuit, but Charlie McNeill’s recent performance in the Carabao Cup has surely confirmed Danny Rohl’s suspicions that a new No.9 is needed.
The Yorkshire outfit have already sent Bailey Cadamarteri out on loan, while Michael Smith’s future remains up in the air after he was linked with Wrexham.
The double departure could leave Ike Ugbo and McNeill as the only recognised strikers, while Jamal Lowe can also play up front, as he has been in the opening fixtures.
McNeill showed a lot of promise on his debut, with a brace against Hull City. However, the youngster was criticised for his ‘sloppy’ performance against Grimsby Town earlier this week.
His display suggested that he is perhaps not ready to play such a significant role for Wednesday, or that he is going to struggle with consistency in his first season in senior football.
Whatever it is, it may encourage Rohl to look for a new striker, but time is rapidly running out to do so.
Clubs across English football have all been desperate to sign new forwards, which means price tags and competition are getting drastically bumped up.
- READ MORE: Danny Rohl explains what he loves about ‘fantastic’ Sheffield Wednesday signing Shea Charles
Aaron Connolly is still available on a free transfer
Rohl won’t want to splash out on a back-up striker, so should instead look to a free-agent that appears to have gone relatively undisturbed this summer.
Aaron Connolly’s name has been rarely mentioned in the transfer window, despite being released by Hull at the end of the season.
The 24-year-old has five goals in the Premier League, as well as 12 in 52 matches in the Championship.
He racked up 10 goals for the Tigers over a season and a half, despite only making 17 starts and spending three months out injured.
Former manager Liam Rosenior had often heaped praise on the striker, admitting that he loves him, as well as hailing him as ‘scary’, a ‘leader’ and a ‘massive influence’ – as per RTE News.
The 40-year-old was sacked by Hull though and Connolly followed him out of the door.
The former Hull City striker can be the perfect back-up
The Republic of Ireland international has been around for a long time, having made his senior debut for Brighton in 2017 at only 17 years old.
He is still young, but has plenty of experience and could add another goalscoring outlet to Wednesday’s team.
He can also help guide McNeill through what is likely to be a season of learning and developing at Hillsborough.
If Smith leaves, then the Owls need to have a back-up striker that can be relied upon, as if Ugbo picks up a lengthy injury, then things could look a lot different in attack.
Connolly will cost absolutely nothing and it does seem like other clubs have missed a trick not picking him up.
It could also allow for McNeill to be sent out on loan, as it doesn’t seem like he is quite ready for Championship football.
This seems even more likely if Smith was to stay at the club, with McNeill able to drop down to the third or fourth division and pick up some valuable experience.