This Sheffield Wednesday man is being eyed up by Derby County, according to an emerging report from Alan Nixon.
Sheffield Wednesday look set to clear the books a bit this month.
The Owls boast one of the largest first-team squads in the Championship having had more than 30 players on their books before the recent departures of John Buckley and Tyreeq Bakinson.
And Danny Rohl looks set to offload some more, with the club having already received some transfer offers for players in this month’s window.
The Star recently revealed that striker Michael Smith has interest from League One clubs and that approaches have been made.
It comes after Derby County tried, rather ambitiously, to sign the striker last summer, but now Nixon has confirmed on his Patreon that the Rams are in fact keen on signing the 32-year-old this month, after murmurs that Derby had retained their interest.
Smith previously played under Derby boss Paul Warne at Rotherham United, with Warne once describing the Wednesday man as a ‘colossal’ striker.
Sheffield Wednesday may be foolish to let Michael Smith leave this month
Strikers are what Rohl said he wanted this month, and on more than one occasion.
Bailey Cadamarteri remains the main no.9 but he now has Ike Ugbo for cover and competition.
Smith though remains a proven goal-scorer and his failure to get into the XI under Rohl is surprising; Smith remains the Owls’ joint-second highest scorer in the Championship this season, having netted 18 and assisted seven in League One last time round.
He’s had an injury issue over the past couple of months but even still, Rohl is barely giving him a look in, and it’s surprising given how prolific Smith has been over the past few years.
He may not completely fit the style of play and at 32, he may not be in Rohl’s future plans either.
But Smith is a tried and tested striker which, for a team in Sheffield Wednesday’s predicament, can only be a plus.
And with Lee Gregory also looking likely to leave this month, offloading Smith, and on a loan deal as well, seems bizarre.
He’d be a huge coup for any club in League One and if he does eventually leave on loan, he’ll then have a chance to show Rohl and Wednesday exactly what he can do.
Up next for the Owls is a home game vs Coventry City in the Championship next weekend.