"Square pegs in round holes" - Sheffield Wednesday's January transfer priority outlined | OneFootball

Our Owls fan pundit has had his say on the main position that the Owls need to address in the January window

Sheffield Wednesday have been urged to prioritise signing a centre-back in the January transfer window to help Danny Rohl's side climb up the table in the second-half of the season.

The Owls have struggled at the back so far this term, with numerous heavy losses to the likes of Sunderland, Millwall and Watford, after only two full-backs, Yan Valery and Max Lowe, were signed to bolster their defence in the summer window.

Danny Rohl's side currently sit in a very respectable 10th place in the second-tier, yet their defensive issues are highlighted by the fact that they have conceded the joint-fourth most goals of any team in the league up to now, with 40, level with strugglers Cardiff City and Oxford United.

It is clear that Wednesday are in need of additions to their backline this month if they are to continue to improve and finish in the top-half come May, but whether owner Dejphon Chansiri is set to allow funds to be spent on incomings remains to be seen.

Sheffield Wednesday

The Owls have used nine players at centre-back so far this season, according to Transfermarkt, with Rohl's favoured three players at the back being Dominic Iorfa, Di'Shon Bernard natural full-back Max Lowe.

It is clear given recent updates around Michael Ihiekwe's future, with the 32-year-old set to leave this month, as well as injury issues for Iorfa, Valery and Akin Famewo, that defensive additions are needed as soon as possible.

FLW's Wednesday fan pundit, Patrick McKenna, has stressed the importance of the club signing a no-nonsense, level-headed centre-back in January, and believes that the position must be addressed before any other this month.

“In regards to a position that we need to strengthen in January, it definitely has to be the centre-back position," Patrick told FLW.

“We have seen this season how many poor and sloppy goals we’re conceding. This is really going against us, and it means we’re having to score at least two goals a game to even stay ahead.

“It’s been very disappointing that it just seems to be absolute chaos and panic in our box, so we need somebody who can just take command of it.

“We need someone with experience on how to marshal a defence, and not leave it as chaotic as it is.

“Obviously, these days players do need to be able to play out with the ball, and of course Danny Rohl does like his defenders to play out from the back, but I’d also like to think that we could get a player who is a bit old-school.

“Do the basics, a tall defender who can clear the ball with his head or just get rid of it.

“It’s an area where there have been a lot of poor goals conceded, but a concern is also the numbers in the centre-back position.

“Michael Ihiekwe has been out for months now and Akin Famewo isn’t due back until at least March, so we are kind of having to put square pegs in round holes.

“Dominic Iorfa is also having quite a poor season as well, and we’re having to stick players like Yan Valery and Max Lowe in as centre-backs, when they’re not really centre-backs as such.

“It has to be a real focus for January, if we are going to get any players in.

“A centre-back, someone who can come in and just stop the chaos.

“The amount of goals we concede, they’re very poor and sloppy, players not clearing their lines, letting the ball bounce and in a lot of second-balls as well we’re very easy to get past.

“It’s the main position we need to get sorted before looking at anywhere else on the pitch.”

Danny Rohl has made his priorities clear in the transfer market for Sheffield Wednesday

Wednesday need additions to their defence, but there has been a lack of concrete links to many centre-backs this month as yet, and they are set for a busy end to the window with four games between now and the deadline, including tough tests against Leeds United and Bristol City.

Boss Rohl has made his priorities this month clear, with hints at signings to bolster the heart of his backline, but whether the club will be able to bring in his main targets is a different story altogether, particularly with Wednesday's damaged reputation in the market.

"Of course we look at the market and what we can do. We have a clear profile of what we want to sign if it is possible. When you have two injuries in this position then of course we will have our eyes open," Rohl told the Sheffield Star last week.

"If we have updates I will let you know. We try, we look at the market and we keep going with what we can do.

"This is the job at the minute, we will look to some players and it is important to understand it is not just about replacing a player, it is about increasing our quality. It is a big challenge now, when you look at the market to what is possible and what is not possible.

"For me it is clear which profiles we need and which categories we need. We have a good group here together and I can just say it again; it must be upgrades."

That is quite the statement from the 35-year-old, with a clear message to owner Chansiri that he wants to bring in a certain profile of player and will seemingly be disappointed if the club do not manage to fulfil his requests.

For now though, Wednesday are having to make do with the little depth they have got at the back, after teenage centre-back Gabriel Otegbayo made just the fourth start of his senior career away to Coventry City last time out.

The 19-year-old has impressed in his short time in the Owls' first-team squad so far, but they cannot become reliant on youngsters if they wish to progress up the table in the coming months, so it is an absolute priority that at least one centre-back is signed before the January window slams shut.