Sheffield Wednesday are facing a make or break transfer window next month.
Transfer windows are always important, and the January window is often pivotal in deciding a club’s fate.
But for Sheffield Wednesday, this upcoming January window seems like a crucial one in deciding not only their fate this season, but their fortunes for the next couple of years maybe.
It’s a first transfer window under Danny Rohl and the club have appointed a new Head of Recruitment in Kevin Beadell to help facilitate what fans hope will be some positive January signings.
But there are also some potential pitfalls for the Owls to avoid next month…
Offloading too much experience
One potential pitfall for Sheffield Wednesday is offloading too many of their experienced old guard next month.
A lot of them are out of contract next season and a few are out of favour, or falling out of favour under Rohl; Lee Gregory is out of contract and seems to have been frozen out, Liam Palmer too and he’s only returned to the team after the injury to Dominic Iorfa.
And with a sense that Sheffield Wednesday need to usher in the next generation of players, a few player sales seems inevitable next month.
But Wednesday need to be wary of offloading too many players and of ridding themselves of what is always necessary experience in the first-team, especially given their perilous league position.
Losing squad depth in key areas
Right now, the Sheffield Wednesday squad is lacking balance and shape.
The midfield is a bit top-heavy whilst the attacking department is lacking, so expect this to be an issue that Rohl addresses in the winter window.
But there’s a fine balance here.
For example, Sheffield Wednesday could offload a few central midfielders; loan pair John Buckley and Jeff Hendrick, but then should the likes of George Byers, Will Vaulks, or Barry Bannan pick up an injury then Rohl may be left short in that midfield area.
Whilst bodies are needed in certain areas of the pitch, and a bit of trimming in other areas, Rohl and Sheffield Wednesday need to find the right balance in the squad and not make the current issue any worse.
Relying on the loan market
Sheffield Wednesday look set to utilise the loan market in January.
Rohl has made the club a much more attractive place for Premier League teams to send their younger players and given the financial situation at Hillsborough, loan signings seem inevitable in January.
And with players also looking set to leave, there could be a fairly big change in playing personell.
But, with a number of players out of contract next summer, Sheffield Wednesday need to be wary of stocking up on loan players and then finding themselves short next summer.
On loan players leaving as well as those out of contract could mean another huge rebuilding task for the Owls next summer.