Garry Monk and Sheffield Wednesday back to transfer drawing board after completing Callum Paterson signing

Garry Monk will have further conversations with the Sheffield Wednesday hierarchy about further signings having this week added Callum Patterson to his squad.
HOPES: Garry Monk admits he would like further additions to his Sheffield Wednesday squadHOPES: Garry Monk admits he would like further additions to his Sheffield Wednesday squad
HOPES: Garry Monk admits he would like further additions to his Sheffield Wednesday squad

On Wednesday the Owls signed the striker from Cardiff City, having already brought Chey Dunkley, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Izzy Brown, Elias Kachunga and Josh Windass this summer.

Monk admits he would like more additions, but says it has been a “one-at-a-time” approach to signings, and he must sit down with the board to see what is possible before drawing up further targets. But he is not expecting to lose defender Dominic Iorfa despite rumoured interest from Championship rivals Watford.

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The coronavirus pandemic is making planning harder than usual. As recently as the start of last week, the Owls thought a limited number of supporters would be allowed into Hillsborough for Saturday's Championship visit of Queens Park Rangers, but now the indications are that it could be March before fans are allowed back into games, severely hitting income.

“As a manager you want to add as much quality as you can get,” said Monk of his squad building.

“It’s a one-at-a-time sort of process, that’s how we’ve worked. We see if we can get anything done and try to work as smart as we can with the restrictions we have.

“The want is there but I have to see as we go along what we can and can't do.

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“Those conversations are ongoing, but there’s nothing at this moment in terms of targets. Of course there are players we look through to see if there's stuff out there but at this moment in time I need to sit with the club and see what we can and can't do.”

Asked specifically if he would like more strikers having lost Steven Fletcher, Fernando Forestieri, Atdhe Nuhiu, Sam Winnall and loanee Connor Wickham since last season, Monk replied: “As a manager you want to add as much as you can and we know we’re going to need it. We don’t have the biggest of squads but we have a competitive squad, which is great and you can see that in training.

“We need to add but whether we can or not is another thing. I have to accept that, we all do.”

There have been reports that an unnamed Premier League club and Watford, who were relegated from the top flight in the summer, are looking at 25-year-old Iorfa.

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“I’ve heard nothing from the club on that,” insisted Monk. “He’s a fantastic guy to work with. I haven’t heard a thing.”

English cubs have until 11pm on Monday to complete overseas transfers but domestic deals are permitted until 5pm on October 16.

Monk believes Paterson, who is under consideration for a weekend debut, will bring something different to his squad. The 25-year-old is a genuine targetman unlike the other forwards brought to the club this summer, Kachunga and Windass.

“I think it was about adding different attributes to the forward line that we haven’t got,” he commented.

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“We know the attributes he's got, that was plain to see and bringing that in was important to add to the strengths we've already got in that forward line.

“We’re delighted to have him in here – a good age, good profile and he's settled int very well. He came into training on Wednesday and like everyone else he's in contention for the weekend.”

The Owls have no fresh injuries to report.

The plan is for Osaze Urhoghide to play 90 minutes for the under-23s for this first time this season at home to Birmingham City on Monday.

Summer signing Chey Dunkley had the pins removed from his leg after the operation to repair it after February's break, and the specialist he saw is said to be delighted with his progress. Monk was speaking before training on Thursday, which the central defender was expected to be involved in.

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