Roberts’s rejection of Town deal raises Wednesday’s hopes of adding winger to their ranks

Roberts has rejected the offer of a new contract with the Terriers and has entered the final year of his existing deal.

Owls boss Megson is desperate to strengthen and expressed frustration only last weekend about the lack of transfer activity this summer at Hillsborough.

He also submitted a list of four transfer targets to chairman Milan Mandaric, via chief executive Paul Aldridge, who he feels could make the difference between success and failure next season.

Roberts, 27, cost just £250,000 from Ipswich Town three years ago and has been a revelation at the Galpharm Stadium.

He has played a key role in a side that has narrowly missed out on promotion for the last two seasons and, although predominantly left-sided, is comfortable on either flank, offering pace, trickery and an eye for goal.

Whether Town manager Lee Clark will want to sell to one of his side’s biggest rivals remains to be seen but they are likely to seek a fee in the region of £750,000 should they let him go.

The Owls have signed only four new players this summer after parting company with seven since the end of last season.

Megson is worried that he will not have enough cover should injuries strike and also fears his side have lost ground in the transfer market this summer to Town and fellow promotion rivals Charlton Athletic.

“At the moment, we have a squad of 17 pros with three goalkeepers,” Megson told the Yorkshire Post. “I know who I want to bring in and the sooner we can do it the better.

“The players we want are available. Now we have just got to bring those players in so that we can move forward.”

Megson, who has not commented on Roberts, also wants Preston North End striker Neil Mellor, Rochdale forward Chris O’Grady and Wolves defender Danny Batth.

Mellor, a lifelong Owls supporter who scored 20 goals on loan last season, is keen to return to Hillsborough and the clubs have agreed a transfer fee. There has yet to be agreement, however, on the player’s wages.

The Owls bid just £200,000 for Rochdale striker O’Grady and this was immediately rejected. Megson, however, is keen to make an improved offer.

Batth is another player who impressed on loan for the Owls last season – after spending a brief and less successful stint at Sheffield United.

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has yet to confirm whether the 20-year-old will be allowed out on loan again and may prefer to see him tested at Championship level.

Town, meanwhile, have struck a deal to bring midfielder Damien Johnson back to the club from Plymouth Argyle.

Johnson played 23 games on loan for the club at the start of last season before suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury. Depending on the results of a medical carried out yesterday afternoon, he will return to Town on loan until the end of next season.

Owls target Roberts suffered a minor hamstring injury in a friendly against Hamilton Academical last weekend but is not expected to miss the start of the new season.

Town visit Scottish club Dunfermline tonight while the Owls visit South Yorkshire neighbours Rotherham United.