Wednesday continue chase for Premier League duo despite signing striker Afobe

The Owls’ head coach snapped up the 20-year-old England youth international on loan, and wants to bring Sunderland striker Wickham and Hull City’s Fryatt back to Hillsborough before the January transfer window closes today at 11pm.

Both strikers impressed in loan spells at Wednesday, but were recalled by their parent clubs.

Fryatt, who netted twice for the Tigers in their FA Cup win over Southend United last weekend, will be out of contract in the summer and would be able to leave on a free transfer.

Gray hopes to thrash out a deal for the former Walsall striker, who has also been linked with Burnley.

Fryatt fell further down the pecking order at the KC Stadium with the £14m arrival of Shane Long and Nikica Jelavic.

England Under-21 star Wickham – who scored eight goals in 11 games at Wednesday – was forced to cut short his loan deal on Monday, subsequently appearing as an unused substitute for Sunderland in their midweek win over Stoke City.

Afobe, who has previously spent time on loan at Huddersfield Town, revealed good friend Wickham – who the Gunners youngster said was “devastated” at being recalled from the Owls – helped convince him to head north to Hillsborough.

“Me and Connor have been good friends since I was 15, so I spoke to him about coming here,” said Afobe. “He is devastated to have left Sheffield Wednesday this week, he really enjoyed it here.

“He had nothing but good words for this club; he said it would be a great move for me.

“It’s been hard for Connor at Sunderland, he didn’t really get a chance. He came here, blossomed and got his confidence back.

“I always knew Connor was a good player. I have played with him before, and hopefully I can do the same thing here, score a few goals and help the team win.”

Afobe is set to make his debut in the South Yorkshire derby with Barnsley tomorrow at Hillsborough, and Gray – backed financially by chairman Milan Mandaric after being confirmed as the Owls’ permanent head coach last weekend – hopes to do more transfer business today.

But the Owls’ chief knows the club may have to be patient in their pursuit of Wickham even if that means waiting until the loan market re-opens next week.

“He is Sunderland’s player, they can do what they want,” said Gray. “We are not a one-man team and have a squad of players here who put a fantastic shift in.

“Sunderland had a great win on Wednesday night, got them out of the bottom three, and Connor was on the bench.

“Whether it happens by this Saturday, or when the emergency loan window opens, hopefully something will happen.

“We have several calls out there, and hopefully something will happen before Saturday.

“Connor wants to come back, that is the first tick in the box. But it’s up to Sunderland what they want to do with him. I am pleased he wants to come back because he was enjoying his football.”

The Tigers have rejected one approach by Wednesday this week for Fryatt, who like Wickham enjoyed his time in S6 and would be keen on a return to play first-team football.

It remains to be seen whether the Owls could afford a transfer fee, or put together a loan package to tempt Hull to let the striker go. One stumbling block could be Fryatt’s eligibility to play in the FA Cup, with Hull still involved in the competition.

Gray said: “Matty is out of contract at the end of the season.

“Again, he’s Hull City’s player, we will keep talking, be in dialogue with them.

“We would love Matty to come back, but at this moment in time, Hull City are paying his wages and they want him to stay there.”

Wednesday – who are hoping to recruit former Norwich manager John Deehan as a coach – have been charged by the Football Association after a mass confrontation of players at Millwall, which saw Wednesday’s Giles Coke and the Lions’ Shane Lowry sent off.