It has been an incredibly frustrating January transfer window for Sheffield Wednesday, but they will be hoping to do business before Monday’s deadline.
Following a tight escape from relegation last season, Wednesday have made significant progress under manager Danny Rohl this season, emerging as surprise play-off hopefuls in recent months.
However, while everything has gone well on the pitch for the Owls, the same cannot be said about happenings behind the scenes, with a public spat between Rohl and owner Dejphon Chansiri overshadowing the club’s transfer window.
It is claimed that Rohl and Chansiri’s conflict began when the German was rejected a move to Southampton in December following Russell Martin’s dismissal, resulting in a breakdown in communication between the two.
At a heated fan forum two weeks ago, Chansiri claimed that he had not spoken with Rohl since December, and that no negotiations had taken place with the management about prospective January transfer targets.
Much to the satisfaction of Wednesday fans, Rohl and Chansiri have already settled their differences and are striving to bolster the squad before the deadline, but there is no doubt that their stalemate cost the club valuable weeks in the window.
Sheffield Wednesday weighing up Emmanuel Dennis move
While there has been a distinct lack of new additions, it has not been all bad news for Wednesday fans in January, as the club did manage to reach an agreement to keep on-loan Southampton midfielder Shea Charles until the end of the season, despite competition from Steel City rivals Sheffield United.
However, Charles was already a member of the Owls’ squad in the first half of the season, and if they are to finish in the top six, they will need to add more quality before the transfer window closes.
The Star reported last week that Nottingham Forest striker Emmanuel Dennis is on Wednesday’s radar, with the 27-year-old described as “one of a number of forward players” being considered by the South Yorkshire club.
However, the deal for Dennis is said to be a “tricky deal to pull off if they make him a prime target,” and journalist Alan Nixon claims that his old club Watford is eager to bring him back to Vicarage Road, while he is also getting interest from abroad.
Dennis has not played for Forest since May 2023, and the Premier League club is trying to offload his £4 million per year wage. However, money are likely to be a major issue for the Owls, who are thought to be “well short on terms” at this time.
Emmanuel Dennis signing would be a statement of intent from Sheffield Wednesday
It appears like Wednesday may struggle to finalize a deal for Dennis before the transfer window closes, but it may be worthwhile to go above and beyond to secure his signature.
Dennis has had a disappointing few years since his £20 million move to Forest in the summer of 2022, but his ability is undeniable, and his arrival would considerably help the Owls’ play-off ambitions, especially given the paucity of goals from their current strikers this season.
While Watford was relegated from the Premier League in the 2021-22 season following a disappointing campaign, Dennis made a strong impression on an individual level in his first season in England, and his performance led Forest to pay a high transfer fee for his services.
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