Sheffield Wednesday striker Sam Winnall has traded places with Derby County midfielder Jacob Butterfield.
Owls head coach Carlos Carvalhal
Wednesday striker Sam Winnall has moved to Pride Park on loan for the season, with Derby midfielder Jacob Butterfield heading to Hillsborough for the same amount of time.
Winnall’s departure came as a surprise to many, having taken place less than eight months after his transfer from local rivals Barnsley, and incensed some of the Owls fanbase.
But according to Carvalhal, the deal is a good one for all involved.
Discussing his decision to offload Winnall, the Wednesday head coach explained: “Two things happened in this situation. First: we needed a midfielder and we don’t have money to spend. Second situation: Derby needed an attacker. They have a lot of midfielders, we have a lot of attackers.
“It was not us that chose Winnall. Derby requested Winnall, we requested Butterfield.”
Derby boss Gary Rowett
Winnall’s move to Derby sees him reunited with Rams boss Gary Rowett, who was number 2 to Paul Peschisolido when the striker was on loan at Burton Albion six years ago.
The 26-year-old has scored four goals in 18 appearances for Wednesday, although only 11 of those outings came as a starter.
Meanwhile, Carvalhal admitted it was a struggle to keep a number of other Owls players out of rival clubs’ clutches.
Forwards Fernando Forestieri and Jordan Rhodes were the two most prominently linked with moves away from Hillsborough last week.
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