Owls boss Jones out to rescue Johnson from Wolves

Signed by Wolves for £4m just two years ago, he has suffered an unhappy time at Molineux as the Black Country club suffered back-to-back relegations from the Premier League to League One.

The 30-year-old was transfer-listed in the summer and has not featured for Wolves this season as they tried to offload the centre-half, who played under Owls manager Dave Jones at Cardiff City.

The two clubs have agreed a three-month loan deal and Johnson – who will join namesakes Reda and Jermaine in the Owls’ line-up – could figure for Wednesday in tomorrow’s home game against Yeovil Town.

“Roger is set to go to Sheffield Wednesday on loan for three months,” said Wolves head coach Kenny Jackett.

“I think it’s all agreed, The paperwork hasn’t been done but it’s all agreed verbally.

“I’m pleased for Roger; it means he can move on and play some football and contribute to what is a very good club at Sheffield Wednesday.

“It was hard for him here, but he is ready to play for Dave Jones’s team and we wish him all the best at Sheffield.”

Johnson, who started his career with Wycombe Wanderers and is approaching 500 league games, is the first of several loan players expected to arrive at Hillsborough in the next week.

With Martin Taylor shipped out to Brentford on loan, and captain Anthony Gardner out for six months with an Achilles injury, the Owls were down to two recognised centre-halves in Kamil Zayatte and Miguel Llera.

Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland and strike duo Leroy Lita (Swansea) and Billy Sharp (Southampton) are all on Jones’s radar.

“We are actively looking,” said Owls chairman Milan Mandaric.

“I don’t think it would be right to discuss the name of players because most of these players will be looked at by other clubs.

“There is enough competition without being loud and clear for what we want. But we are definitely in need and I would like to assure our supporters we are not ignoring that and are going to bring additional power to our team. We are definitely looking for a striker, a finisher, to help us score more goals, and another creative midfield player.”

The stumbling block with Sharp seems to be his reported £18,000-a-week wages and the split on who pays what between Wednesday and Saints.

Mandaric said: “That is steep for Championship budgets where the maximum salary is probably around £10,000 a week. You can’t criticise the club because that is their prerogative.

“But what I don’t understand is the player just sitting there and not playing. Why not a sensible situation? Why not put him on the stage to move on? Why would you keep a player if he doesn’t have a chance to be part of the squad? I think it’s not good business and not good for the player. But, as I’ve said, he’s their player and it’s their prerogative.”

Mandaric said he was still in ongoing talks with two groups about a possible takeover at Hillsborough, but no deal was imminent.