January is just around the corner, and for Sheffield Wednesday, it’s a crucial transfer window.
As far as transfer windows go, this upcoming one for Sheffield Wednesday could have a lot of say in their near-term future.
The Owls sit in last place of the Championship table with just one win to their name all season; already nine points adrift and looking set for relegation.
To make matters worse, the club is in a tough financial predicament and also have a number of players out of contract next summer, so should they get relegated, it could kick-start a rather rapid decline down the Football League.
But there’s hope yet. New boss Danny Rohl has given Wednesday fans something to be optimistic about, and it looks like he’s eyeing changes in January.
What has Rohl said?
Speaking to The Star, Rohl gave an insight into the January transfer window and what it might hold for the Owls.
The 34-year-old said:
“At the moment it is about some positions we must think about. In some positions we have five or six options and in others we have maybe one or two. It’s about balancing the squad and we will prepare for this in the next weeks, then we have to start ready for the January window.”
A balancing act for Sheffield Wednesday
Wednesday have one of the biggest first-team squads in the Championship with nearly 30 players on the books.
But the Sheffield Wednesday squad is very much quantity over quality. Rohl doesn’t have much star quality to pick from and like he says above, the squad is lacking shape, lacking balance.
In central midfield for example, there’s a number of options to pick from; Barry Bannan, George Byers, Tyreeq Bakinson, Will Vaulks, Momo Diaby, and loan duo Jeff Hendrick and John Buckley.
The latter pair signed on deadline day but neither has yet to really impress the watching Wednesday fans, and given that, both could yet be facing contested January transfer windows.
There’s already been suggestions from Blackburn Rovers that Buckley could be recalled, and given Hendrick’s poor performances and increasing lack of game time, another move might well be in the offing for him.
And their exits would also open up a couple of loan spaces in the side for Rohl to bring in players in another area of the pitch; one which the Owls are lacking either quality or depth in.
Rohl’s comments on the balance of the squad and on having multiple players in one position suggests that he’ll look to potentially move on some names in January.
Central midfield is arguably the most well-stocked position and Buckley and Hendrick are perhaps dispensable, so it looks like the pair could yet be returning to their parent clubs in the New Year.