Championship transfers: Sheff Wed, Middlesbrough and Southampton make transfer admissions as window looms
The latest transfer talk from across the Championship.
One of Portsmouth’s Championship relegation rivals are facing a period of uncertainty as a potential takeover continues to move closer.
Sheffield Wednesday’s battle against the drop appears to be heading towards an inevitable outcome after they received another points deduction as the impact of their financial issues of Dephron Chansiri’s ownership continues to hamper efforts to progress.
A number of parties, including former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, remain in the race to take ownership of the Owls and hopefully put the club on the road to recovery. With a transfer embargo partially lifted to allow for free agent signings such as Liam Cooper and Nathan Redmond to be made, there are hopes Wednesday will be able to make signings during the summer transfer window - and manager Henrik Pedersen has given an update on what business could be conducted in the first month of the new year.
Speaking ahead of his side’s visit to Ipswich Town, Pedersen said of the club’s administrator, Kris Wigfield: “I think he’s working really hard to get it done as soon as possible, so we have a chance to do something in January. But we also know it takes time to get everything done, and right now we don’t know who the new owner will be, and we don’t know the reaction from the EFL. So there is a lot of questions that are open before we can say what we can do in the January transfer window.” Pedersen was also asked if there was a possibility of an imminent free agent signing, Pedersen replied: “No. Not at all.”
Saints assess loan star’s future
Southampton sporting director Johannes Spors has moved to deny reports suggesting the Saints have made a firm decision over a possible permanent loan deal for loan star Elias Jelert.
Reports in Turkey have suggested the Saints have already decided against making the Denmark Under-21 international a permanent member of Tonda Eckert’s squad after he made just four appearances in all competitions after joining on a temporary basis by Super Lig giants Galatasaray. However, Spors has denied any call has been made and insisted it would ‘make no sense’ if a decision been taken.
Speaking to the Daily Echo, he said: “I spoke to him in the canteen, and I said just don’t listen to that. I thought maybe he reads and believes that. Why should a football club take up an option in November that they have until May? It makes no sense. Even if you wanted to take the option, or didn’t, you don’t do it [now].”
Boro boss makes transfer admission
Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg has wasted little time in making an impact after he was named as successor to Rob Edwards at the Riverside Stadium.
Since his appointment was confirmed last month, Hellberg’s side have won all four of their Championship fixtures, scoring 11 goals and conceding four in the process. That has meant Boro are sitting firmly in the automatic promotion places as they prepare for a tough looking trip to Bristol City on Saturday before a home double header against Blackburn Rovers and Hull City before the turn of the year.
The latter of those fixtures will precede the opening of the January transfer window as Hellberg gets his first opportunity to boost the squad he inherited from Edwards. Speaking earlier this week, the Swede has confirmed transfer discussions are in the works and admitted he could consider returning to his home country to add to his ranks after refusing to rule out a move for Hammarby defender Viktor Eriksson.
He told Swedish news outlet Sportbladet: “We’re going to talk about players tomorrow [yesterday, Thursday]. They are very good at scouting players here. Then we’ll have discussions. The Swedish market is of course an interesting market. If you have a coach who has worked there for as many years as I have, it’s of course a skill you can use.
“Then I’m not the one who will make the decisions about which players will come in or not, but I will certainly be part of them. There are many players in the Allsvenskan so it’s not impossible that someone will show up for sure. So, we’ll see. Victor is a good player regardless, but it’s not like I’m saying we have to sign him.”
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