Sheffield Wednesday are facing another pivotal transfer window in January, but journalist Ricky Charlesworth has played down the possibility of the Owls spending any serious money.
Sheffield Wednesday have had fairly busy summer transfer windows in recent seasons.
The Owls often go about something of a minor summer rebuild but it’s often made up of free and loan players, with it being the same case in the summer just gone.
Dejphon Chansiri forked out for the likes of Pol Valentin and Djeidi Gassama, but limited the club to free agent signings and a couple of loan additions on deadline day.
And few fans may be unsurprised to hear that it may be the same case again in January.
Writing for Yorkshire Live, Charlesworth has all but ruled out the possibility of Sheffield Wednesday paying seven-figure fees for any new signings, but suggesting that the club may have to do some ‘wheeling and dealing’ in a bid to get their campaign back on track.
He wrote:
“We can categorically rule out the club making seven-figure bids but whether Röhl is restricted to loans and free agents, it is unclear at this stage. Some wheeling and dealing may not only be necessary but also welcomed. The number of senior players at Röhl’s disposal is nearing 30 so there is certainly fat to be trimmed. Last year’s January window saw just a solitary addition, in the shape of loan defender Aden Flint. Wednesday’s priorities have changed a lot since then and the hope among fans is that there are more exciting incomings to look forward to this time around.”
Wednesday wheeling and dealing…
In fairness, Chansiri has put money into the club in the past. But times are much harder now and so expect the Owls owner to be scouring the cheapest markets for the best deals.
Whether that be buying players in the final months of their contracts, or from lower leagues or abroad, remains to be seen, and whether the club is a more attractive place for loan players remains likewise.
With Danny Rohl in charge, bringing with him a more defined and contemporary footballing philosophy, Wednesday may be a more attractive place for Premier League clubs to send their youngsters, though given Sheffield Wednesday’s form, it remains unlikely that the Owls will land any top prospects.
A make or break January for the Owls
It certainly is a make or break window for the Owls.
As things stand, it seems like Sheffield Wednesday are hurling towards relegation to League One, and only the idea and possibility of new signings can save their season; unless for a miracle from Rohl and his players.
And Chansiri will know this. He obviously won’t want to see Wednesday relegated but whether he can pump in the necessary funds to beat the drop, and whether he will, remains to be seen.
This international break though can only serve as a positive to Rohl who’ll have had further time to push home his ideas and his ways, with a trip to Birmingham City next on the agenda.