Sheffield Wednesday: Norwich City-linked free agent should be 1 of 3 considered by Danny Rohl.
Sheffield Wednesday will be hoping for a much-improved campaign in the Championship this season.
Wednesday narrowly avoided relegation last season following a remarkable turnaround under Danny Rohl, and there is plenty of hope that they can climb the table in the year ahead.
Rohl signed a new long-term contract at Hillsborough in May, and the positivity around the club increased after a busy summer transfer window that saw the arrival of 11 new signings.
While the Owls’ transfer business looked strong initially, their mixed start to the season has highlighted some areas of weakness in the squad, and speaking last month, Rohl refused to rule out the possibility of entering the free agent market.
“We look in this market, but for example you look at some players that could maybe be interesting and helpful for one season, but the demanding from the agents or the players is we don’t do short term, it must be long term. Then you sign a player now for the long term project where you think it makes sense to invest, if you say no because a player wants the long-term and security a little bit, then you don’t come to an agreement,” Rohl told The Star.
With the busy winter period approaching, Rohl may decide to bolster his squad, and we looked at three free agents that he should consider signing.
Paul Dummett
paul dummett and eddie howe
Aside from loan spells at Gateshead and St Mirren, defender Paul Dummett had spent his entire career at Newcastle United, but he was released at the end of his contract this summer.
Dummett made his debut for the Magpies in January 2013, and he went on to score four goals in 213 appearances for the club, but his game time became increasingly limited after the arrival of Eddie Howe in November 2021, and he barely featured in his final few years at St James’ Park.
The 32-year-old was linked with Leeds United and Ipswich Town in the January transfer window, and Sheffield United were said to be keen on him this summer, but a move to Bramall Lane did not materialise.
Wednesday do have a number of centre-backs on their books, including the likes of Dominic Iorfa, Di’Shon Bernard, Michael Ihiekwe and Akin Famewo, but the injuries they have suffered in the early weeks of the season have shown how quickly options can become depleted.
Dummett could be the perfect signing to add more depth at the heart of defence, while he can also play at left-back, which may be useful given Max Lowe’s poor injury record in recent years.
Given that Dummett has made just 12 senior appearances over the last three seasons, he may need time to get up to full match sharpness, but he performed well whenever called upon for Newcastle last term, and the fact that Championship promotion contenders such as Leeds, Ipswich and Sheffield United have been linked with him during the past year is a big endorsement of his quality.
Matty James
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Despite captaining the club last season and scoring three goals in 43 appearances, midfielder Matty James was surprisingly released by Bristol City this summer after three years at Ashton Gate.
James’ former club, Coventry City, were said to be considering a move for him last month following an injury to Ben Sheaf, but he was not offered a contract at the CBS Arena, and he remains a free agent.
Wednesday’s early season central midfield problems have been solved by the signing of Shea Charles on loan from Southampton, but with Nathaniel Chalobah currently sidelined, injuries could stretch Rohl’s options over the busy winter period.
Some may assume that James’ best days are behind him at the age of 33, but he was one of the Robins’ most consistent performers last season, and he would add important Championship experience and leadership qualities to the Owls squad if he did make the move to Hillsborough.
shea charles
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Emiliano Marcondes
Emiliano Marcondes
Attacking midfielder Emiliano Marcondes is currently a free agent after being released by Bournemouth this summer following a disappointing three-year spell at the Vitality Stadium.
Marcondes first made his name in English football at Brentford, where he scored seven goals and provided 13 assists in 97 games, and he was part of the squad that won promotion to the Premier League in 2021.
The 29-year-old then made the move to Bournemouth, and he earned his second career promotion to the top flight in his first season at the club, but after his minutes became restricted, he spent time out on loan with Nordsjaelland and Hibernian prior to his departure in June.
Marcondes was linked with Norwich City this summer, and Canaries head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup, who worked with the midfielder at Nordsjaelland, recently hinted that he could look to bring him to Carrow Road, so Wednesday may need to move fast if they are to land his signature.
Scoring goals has been a problem for the Owls at times this season, so Marcondes could help to provide a different attacking dimension for Rohl’s side, and his creativity from midfield would help to take the pressure off the likes of Barry Bannan and Josh Windass.
