Sheffield Wednesday transfer update emerges - one or two new players could sign | OneFootball

Sheffield Wednesday are hopeful that a handful of free agents could join the ranks soon

Sheffield Wednesday are currently in talks with the EFL about the prospect of bringing in one or two free agents.

This is per a report from The Sheffield Star, who state that the Owls are having conversations with the league as they aim to add to an injury-ravaged, threadbare squad.

Sheffield Wednesday have had to sit back and watch as their senior stars from past seasons walk out the door, leaving them with a threadbare squad, and with a further eight injury casualties currently in the ranks at Hillsborough, Henrik Pedersen has had to throw even more inexperienced academy graduates in at the deep end in the Championship.

Due to various embargoes, Wednesday have had to have permission from the EFL to sign anyone for a few months now, but the Owls are hoping that they can receive the help they need as they enter a busy winter period.

Sheffield Wednesday hopes to bring in free agents soon

According to The Star, Sheffield Wednesday are in talks with the EFL over possibly bringing in one or two free agents as the schedule tightens up over the coming months.

It's been a tough few months at Hillsborough, as the mismanagement of former owner Dejphon Chansiri saw late wage payments in five of his final seven months in charge, leading to several embargoes for issues regarding whom the club owed money to, and senior players leaving either for cut prices, or nothing at all.

Those embargoes made it almost impossible for the Owls to replace their mass outgoings, as they had to receive approval from the EFL to bring players in. Harry Amass was able to join on loan from Manchester United on deadline day, but the EFL blocked the Owls' approach to sign Jaden Heskey from Manchester City.

Despite there being light at the end of the tunnel regarding Chansiri's reign, as the club were placed into administration just over a week ago, the club is still under embargo — a separate one which affects clubs in administration until a new buyer is in place.

The process of a new buyer may be underway, but the club are still having to battle adversity on the pitch. Eight players are currently unavailable for Henrik Pedersen due to injury, and all but one member of their bench in their recent goalless draw against West Bromwich Albion were academy graduates.

Therefore, Wednesday are hoping that the EFL will permit them to bring anyone in on a free transfer, pleading their case that they're being forced to use inexperienced academy players due to these injuries.

It's a cliché ahead of the winter period in football that teams need to utilise their whole squad, but for Sheffield Wednesday, their senior squad is already on its last legs.

The Owls are close to having no choice but to play teenagers with little to no senior football experience, which not only puts extra strain on the current fit senior players to play close to 90 minutes three times a week for the most part over the coming months, but it also puts these youth players at risk by throwing them in at the deep end.

It's an unprecedented situation, but one that Sheffield Wednesday will hope that the EFL can see some humanity in, and grant them permission to bring in a couple of free agents to help ease the workload.

Even then, the Owls' squad will still be incredibly threadbare ahead of the toughest part of the season, but at this point, anything will do for a Wednesday side looking to get back above their negative points tally.