A striker? Yep. A defender? Maybe. - Where Sheffield Wednesday are at, and what they need, on transfer deadline day – Joe Crann’s column
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Of course, it goes without saying, that the Owls can still snap up a few free agents if they need to (they can be signed whenever, as long as they’re free by the time the window closes), but in terms of contracted players – tonight is the night.
Wednesday have done some good business so far, in my opinion. They’ve signed players of good ages, for good prices, and with one eye on the future – but is it enough? Possibly.
Could they benefit from a couple more? Almost certainly.
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Hide AdWhen Joost van Aken was asked about the potential incoming of another centre back, he said that he’d welcome it, that it would bring more competition and therefore drive him on. I think that’s probably the case for everyone, everybody should be being pushed for their place if Wednesday are to succeed.
But with 5pm this evening not too far away, where are Wednesday at?
Who’s being linked?
That’s a relatively big list, really. Garry Monk joked that they’d been linked with hundreds of players of late, and with the transfer deadline approaching, there’s probably a few more that are going to be thrown into the hat.
Right now it’s been focused on Dion Sanderson (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Aden Flint (Cardiff City), Ross Steward (Ross County), Kenneth Zohore (West Bromwich Albion) and, most recently, Lee Gregory (Stoke City) and Jack Marriott (Derby County).
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Hide AdAny of them could end up joining before 5pm tonight, or none of them could. The fact is that Wednesday certainly seem to have become more savvy with their signings, and if the deal isn’t right then they’ll pull the plug.
What do they need?
If you’d asked me two weeks ago, I’d have said a striker and a wingback that can play on both sides would’ve been the final pieces to the jigsaw for now until January, but what happened before and during the Queens Park Rangers game may have added a new centre half into the equation.
For me, a goalscorer (I know it’s easy to say but harder to do) is first priority, and a versatile wingback will be key should the Owls have to deal with injuries to their limited number of wide players.
Prior to the 1-1 draw with QPR, Wednesday had a wealth of depth at centre half, but when Dominic Iorfa, Liam Shaw, Liam Palmer and then Tom Lees all fell victim to injury, you have to wonder if another may be needed.
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Hide AdSo what next?
In short, there’s not much time left. The transfer window closes at 5pm this evening, after which the Owls and other clubs around the country will be left with only the free agent market to deal in.
There are a couple, such as Andre Green and Wato Kuate, that have been linked with the club over the past couple of weeks, but fans will feel a whole lot more at ease if SWFC are a couple of bodies stronger come 5.01pm.