Transfer gossip, Friday: Sheffield Wednesday eye defenders | Barnsley target strikers | Middlesbrough want Huddersfield Town winger | Leeds United move for Hammer

Barnsley are also lining up a replacement for striker Tom Bradshaw following his loan followed by £1m move to Millwall.

The Owls, hit by an FFP transfer ban until recently, are said to want to sign central defender Michael Hector, 26, on loan from Chelsea.

But head coach Jos Luhukay refused to be drawn on speculation linking the Owls to the former Reading trainee.

Hector has been at Stamford Bridge since 2015 but has been back on loan to the Royals and was also at Hull City last season.

The Owls have also been linked with a move for another central defender, Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Danny Batth.

Barnsley are lining up either Portsmouth 21-year-old Conor Chaplin – Coventry City are also interested – or Fulham’s Cauley Woodrow as a replacement for Bradshaw.

Cash-rich Middlesbrough are looking at Huddersfield Town winger Rajiv van la Parra, who joined the Terriers two years ago from Wolves for around £810,000.

The Dutchman, 27, played an integral role in helping Town into the Premier League and also keeping them there but has not figured this season.

Leeds United could seek central defensive cover in West Ham’s Reece Oxford. The 19-year-old was on loan at Borussia Mönchengladbach last season and played eight matches for the Bundesliga club.

He is captain of West Ham’s Under-23s and the England youth side.

Charlton Athletic still want to sign Leeds midfielder Eunan O’Kane, but wages are a stumbling block.

Leeds defender Ouasim Buoy, 25, is being loaned back to Dutch top tier club PEC Zwolle.

Aston Villa are closing in on the loan signing of Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham, which could pave the way for Sheffield United to sign Scott Hogan from the Villa.

Hull City are not expected to make any loan signings until after the weekend.

Rotherham United remain in talks with Brighton over bringing back Richie Towell on loan.

The Millers have loaned central defender Michael Ihiekwe, 25, to League One side Accrington Stanley until January.

Former Doncaster Rovers manager Darren Ferguson is a contender for the Scunthorpe job following the sacking of former Rotherham player Nick Daws today.