Following Sheffield Wednesday’s humbling by Blackburn Rovers at the weekend, their season now hangs in the balance.
The Owls slipped from being in playoff contention right down to tenth position, and even though a few wins would springboard them back into the picture, their inconsistencies will undoubtedly continue to play a major part.
What’s happening?
Garry Monk’s side have lost four of their last five Championship matches, putting a dark gloss on their recent FA Cup and derby day triumphs.
It is now also successive matches at home that they have failed to find the net with top goalscorer Steven Fletcher absent from the starting XI on both occasions.
The 32-year-old is set to be on the sidelines until at least March through injury, which adds further devastation to the current situation as no other player in the squad can rival his 12 goals this campaign – the next best is a trio of players on three, per WhoScored.
There is now a pressing need to back the manager in the transfer market and bring in another goalscorer.
Now or never
Everything appears to be going wrong at the minute – goals being conceded, a lack of them being scored. Sheffield Wednesday could do with strength in depth and even some starting additions.
It is no secret that Monk is in the hunt for a striker, but that pursuit has already hit an obstacle after Alan Nixon claimed the club’s wage offer to sign Connor Wickham on loan was well short of what is required.
They have also missed out on loan moves for Eddie Nketiah and Rhian Brewster. Another target, 25-year-old hotshot Jonson Clarke-Harris, is available for around £2m, and his figures this season greatly outweigh the backup options of Jordan Rhodes and Sam Winnall.
However, the report claims that the hierarchy at Wednesday feel under-threat by Financial Fair Play regulations.
Who the heck is that?! Can you name all of these obscure Sheffield Wednesday players…
But either way, owner Dejphon Chansiri needs to find a solution and grant his manager’s wish of a new front-man. Sheffield Wednesday’s promotion hopes hinge on it.
One way the Thai businessman could clear some funds would be to offload a couple of players – Wigan have come in for Jordan Rhodes for instance while Fernando Forestieri’s future is surely blighted as he’s started just one game since Monk took charge in September.
This could free up some wages in order to afford what Palace want for Wickham.
Another solution could be to simply risk FFP – pay the £2m fee for Clarke-Harris or improve the loan offer as mentioned above – in the hope Premier League riches absolve the threat of financial penalties.
Getting this elusive striker may well hold the keys to the Owls making a playoff run, so it’s now on Chansiri to find a way to make it happen.
And in other news, some sections of the Hillsborough faithful have unleashed on Adam Reach following his post-Blackburn comments…