Sheffield Wednesday must send scouts to watch Southampton star and Dion Sanderson, here's why | OneFootball

Sheffield Wednesday will need to bolster their centre-back options in January, so here are two players they should keep an eye on.

Sheffield Wednesday's results have been very inconsistent so far this season.

The Owls will be hoping to look up rather than down in the Championship this campaign but if they fail to pick up more positive results, they could find themselves in a dangerous position.

They are currently floating around mid-table but a couple of bad results will quickly see them plummet towards the bottom end of the table.

Danny Rohl took charge of the club in October 2023 and showed his coaching promise by leading them clear of relegation. Owls fans were rather optimistic about the 2024/25 campaign and though there is a long way to go this term, they'll want to see an upturn in fortunes soon.

Over the summer, he made a number of signings, including Ike Ugbo, who scored seven goals in 17 starts while on loan last season. Unfortunately, he has failed to live up to the hype this season, having failed to score in his first 15 Championship appearances.

Elsewhere, there are obvious defensive issues as the Owls have had a tough time keeping the goals out this season. Rohl typically opts for a back three but more depth at centre-back is needed.

The January transfer window is around the corner, which will give the club an opportunity to bolster defensive options in an attempt to avoid the drop zone.Football League World identifies two players that Sheffield Wednesday scouts should be keeping a close eye on.

Dion Sanderson

Dion Sanderson was a regular starter for Birmingham City in the Championship last season and typically wore the captain's armband, but now that they are in League One, he has found himself very much out of favour.

New Blues boss, Chris Davies, clearly does not see a place for the defender in the current team, and as a result, Sanderson has made just a couple of appearances here and there.

At 24 years of age, the defender needs to be playing regular first-team football, so a move away in January is much needed. It was recently revealed by journalist Alan Nixon, that Birmingham will be looking to sign a new centre-back in January, which would likely see Sanderson depart on loan.

The same report claimed that the 24-year-old has admirers in the Championship and if Sheffield Wednesday are not already one of those admirers, they should certainly keep an eye on his situation.

Sanderson already has plenty of Championship experience with Birmingham, QPR, and Cardiff, and would bring real leadership to the Wednesday defence.

There is no denying that their centre-back options are limited, so Sanderson would be a superb short-term solution.

Zach Awe

Another centre-back option for Sheffield Wednesday to target is Southampton's Zach Awe. The 19-year-old signed for the Saints in the summer and is currently enjoying his first taste of men's football while on loan at Accrington Stanley in League Two.

Accrington have not had the best of starts but Awe has been a mainstay in the defence and has proved himself as one of the bright sparks in the team. At just 19, he has a lot to learn, but his quick adaptation to life in League Two shows that he is not afraid to throw himself into the deep end.

Alan Nixon also recently reported that six Championship clubs are targeting the centre-back ahead of a loan move in January. His departure would be a big blow to Accrington but from a Southampton point of view, moving him higher up the pyramid will benefit his development.

Awe progressed through the Arsenal academy before joining Southampton in the summer, so he has been trained at an elite level. In addition, he can play as a defensive midfielder as well as a centre-back, which would provide further depth for Rohl.