Birmingham City give Sheffield Wednesday a January transfer boost, but fans may not like it

admin | December 16, 2023 | Other Clubs | No Comments

Sheffield Wednesday have made a noticeable progress under new head coach Danny Rohl since his hiring in October to replace Xisco Munoz, and there is a growing belief that he can lead the Owls to Championship safety.

It will still be a long shot given the South Yorkshire club’s poor start to the season under previous manager Munoz, but they have already won three times under the young German and taken a point off Leicester City, which is more than most clubs have done against the Foxes.

Even when they have been losing, there has been a newfound energy about the Owls, but they still need to make a few changes in the approaching January transfer window.

And, according to Alan Nixon on Patreon, controversial owner Dejphon Chansiri is willing to sanction the signing of a high-priced striker, and the Thai businessman is willing to pay up to £30,000 per week in salaries for that player.

That would likely place such a player as Hillsborough’s top earning and somewhere in the Barry Bannan range, and Nixon believes that Birmingham City’s Scott Hogan is on the transfer shortlist.

Birmingham’s Hogan transfer stance boosts Sheffield Wednesday chances

Hogan was previously a prolific Championship goalscorer, scoring 14 times in 25 appearances for Brentford in the 2016-17 season before a big-money move to Aston Villa in January 2017, but he hasn’t been able to replicate that form since.

He has had two 10-goal seasons with Birmingham subsequently, but there has been an abundance of lost chances in most of the Blues’ seasons in front of goal, and Wayne Rooney has quickly concluded that the 31-year-old isn’t exactly in his plans.

Despite starting the season as one of John Eustace’s first-choice 11 players, Hogan’s playing time has quickly declined under Wayne Rooney’s replacement – after starting against Middlesbrough in his first match in charge, the Republic of Ireland international has come off the bench four times and stayed on it for five games.

And, according to Darren Witcoop of the Sunday Mirror, Birmingham will put Hogan on the market in January because his contract expires in the summer, which will only help Wednesday and Chansiri’s chances of bringing in the veteran forward next month.

Hogan may not be a good fit for Sheffield Wednesday – and may stand in Cadamarteri’s way

Given how wasteful Hogan has been for Birmingham for a long time – even with his 10 league goals last season – it’s no wonder that they’re eager to get rid of him before his contract expires.

Birmingham can afford to improve at the top end of the pitch with their new American cash from a summer takeover, but having his salary off the books will be highly beneficial.

For Sheffield Wednesday, who usually only play one striker, he may not be the man they need to help them escape out of the relegation zone.

Hogan has wasted numerous big chances over the last season and a half, and one could argue that a top League One club would be more appropriate.

Wednesday may need to clear out its offensive options, with Lee Gregory appearing to have reached the end of his career at Hillsborough, and loanee Ashley Fletcher perhaps being sent back to Watford after making little impression.

The player most affected by Hogan’s arrival, however, is Bailey Cadamarteri, who is getting lots of game time under Rohl and has already scored twice since breaking into the first squad.

The 18-year-old is more than proving his worth in the Championship right now, and if Chansiri is willing to pay big on salaries to lure Hogan to the club, there may be pressure to give him starts right away.

Many supporters have already expressed their concerns about a potential deal for Hogan, stating that the money could be better spent elsewhere on other positions and that the faith should be kept with Cadamarteri rather than putting money into a player over the age of 30 who appears to be nowhere near as effective as he once was.