Defenders from Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers are among those who could be available to Sheffield Wednesday.
Sheffield Wednesday are seeking defensive recruits after emerging from their transfer embargo at the end of last week, according to the Star.
It should of course come as little surprise to anyone, with Wednesday having shipped six goals in three Championship matches this season after suffering the loss of Frederico Venancio.
How much the Owls have to spend remains to be seen, although major signings should be considered unlikely.
The following three players are either already available or out of favour, however, and could be more attainable ahead of next Friday’s deadline for loans and free transfers.
Tommy Elphick (Aston Villa)
Despite starting and scoring in Villa’s Championship win at Hull City on the opening day, Elphick has sat out the Villans’ last two fixtures with Steve Bruce favouring Axel Tuanzebe instead. Some think a new defender could still arrive at Villa Park, in which case Elphick’s days would be numbered. A former captain of both Aston Villa and Bournemouth – whom he helped to promotion and Premier League safety before his move north – the 30-year-old is the type of character Wednesday are lacking at the back. That said, Villa don’t seem to do much cheaply these days, and the Owls may find Elphick’s wages beyond them anyway.
Nedum Onuoha (Unattached)
A Queens Park Rangers regular for more than six seasons, it is a surprise to see Onuoha remain on the scrapheap so far into the new season – especially with Premier League Burnley among the clubs credited with interest this year. As another former club captain (of QPR), with no transfer fee and the ability to play both right- and centre-back, Onuoha could tick multiple boxes for Wednesday, even if only a short-term fix.
Danny Batth (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
A player who needs no introduction to Sheffield Wednesday fans, having been part of the Owls side that beat Sheffield United – of all clubs – to League One’s runners-up spot six years ago. Batth has since added two more promotions at Wolves, his boyhood club, but is yet to make a matchday squad this season. And while the 27-year-old remains the club captain, offers may be entertained after Wolves’ capture of Leander Dendoncker on the deadline day for regular transfers. Batth’s emotional ties to Hillsborough could help the Owls’ cause if so.
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