The Sheffield Wednesday head coach has had his say following his Derby counterpart’s press conference on Thursday.
Sheffield Wednesday head coach Carlos Carvalhal
Carlos Carvalhal has admitted Sheffield Wednesday wanted to sign two Derby County players on the final day of the summer transfer window.
Wednesday eventually landed Derby midfielder Jacob Butterfield on a season-long loan, sending striker Sam Winnall in the opposite direction.
On Thursday Rams boss Gary Rowett stated that, contrary to his Owls counterpart’s claims, the Hillsborough side had initiated the move by enquiring about another of his midfielders, Craig Bryson, first.
“It was the chairman (of Sheffield Wednesday, Dejphon Chansiri) who contacted me to ask if we want Bryson,” he said. “It was such a big surprise that I said chairman, we want (Bryson), but we wanted the player in the past and he will cost a lot of money. Also his salary is very high, it will be difficult to achieve this player. (He said) no it won’t, because he is available to loan. I said are you serious? Give me some time to check because I need to see if Bryson has any problems, like surgery.
Derby midfielder Craig Bryson
“This was in the morning. I think after lunch – during this period I was analysing Bryson – he contacted me again and said we’ve had contact from Jacob’s agent asking if we want him. (I said) we want him, of course, but how? (Do) they want to sell? (He said) no it can be on loan. I was surprised again. I remember saying to the chairman, bring both. But we couldn’t.
“In that moment he said to me think and let me know which player we want. So we analysed – we are talking about two very, very good midfielders, it was a surprise that Derby put them out of the team. One thing was very important, it was crucial to us, (is that Butterfield plays in) the positions that really we need. Second, he is 27 years old and when we bring him here we said we want an option to buy him, because he can be our player in the future. It’s something we want a lot. It means we think that he can stay in the club.
“I said to the chairman even though I like both, I prefer Jacob. He is perfect for us. I hope Jacob does very well here and we stay with him in the future. I will be very happy if this happens.”
Derby-owned midfielder Jacob Butterfield (left)
Unlike with Butterfield, the deal for Winnall does not include an option for Derby to buy. And Carvalhal has left open the door for the 26-year-old to return to Wednesday in future.
He added: “I will be very happy if Sam Winnall scores goals and play very well in Derby and he comes back to us next season. I hope that with this deal we will be with the two players next season.”
Wednesday host Derby’s fierce rivals Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough on Saturday team time, but are without their top scorer in each of the past two campaigns, Fernando Forestieri, following surgery.
The Argentina-born forward has scored the winning goal in two of the Owls’ last four meetings with Forest.
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