Sheffield Wednesday's wild £9m summer transfer window predicted with West Brom and Bristol City deals

Sheffield Wednesday have enjoyed a positive start to their first full season under manager Danny Rohl.

After arriving at Hillsborough during the first half of last season, the former Bayern Munich coach made a big impact as he led the Owls to safety and ensured their Championship stay was extended to a second season. The momentum gained by that successful battle against relegation has carried into the summer and beyond after Rohl boosted his squad with the additions of the likes of former loan goalkeeper James Beadle, Swedish midfielder Svante Ingelsson and former West Bromwich Albion star Nathaniel Chalobah.

But with two weeks of the summer transfer window remaining, we wondered what could lie in wait for Rohl and Wednesday over the coming fortnight. So we fired up Football Manager 2024, updated the Wednesday squad to its present state and assessed what business the world’s most popular managerial simulation believes the Owls will conduct before the window slams shut later this month.

Goalkeeper

A low key start here as Rohl retains faith with his current goalkeeping options. That’s probably not a shock given the Owls boss has brought in James Beadle and Ben Hamer during the summer transfer window.

Rohl’s goalkeeping options: Beadle, Hamer, Charles

Defenders

There were departures at the back as Pol Valentin moved to Birmingham City on a season-long loan and Bambo Diaby was snapped up by Wednesday’s Championship rivals Stoke City in a £350k deal. However, there were two replacements for the duo as Darnell Furlong came in from West Brom and Rob Dickie arrived from Bristol City at a combined cost of £5.5m.

Rohl’s defensive options: Bernard, Famewo, Iorfa, Ihiekwe, Lowe, Valery, Palmer, Furlong, Dickie

Midfielders

There were no departures from the midfield ranks but, not for the first time this summer, Rohl looked to the free transfer market to add to his squad as he brought in former Tottenham Hotspur and Preston North End midfielder Josh Onomah after the latter at the end of last season.

Rohl’s midfield options: Chalobah, Bannan, Johnson, Windass, Ingelsson, Windass, Onomah

Forwards

Rohl pruned his options at the top end of the pitch as he allowed Michael Smith to join Reading on a season-long loan and Callum Paterson also dropped into League One after making a £100k switch to Stockport County. There was one new arrival as former Everton and Bournemouth forward Joshua King arrived on a free transfer after he left Turkish giants Fenerbahce earlier this summer.

Rohl’s forward options: Gassama, Kobacki, Musaba, Wilks, Ugbo, Lowe, McNeil, Cadamarteri, King

Ins

Ugbo (£2.2m from Troyes), Kobacki (£400k from Arka Gdynia), Valery (£300k from Angers), M Lowe (free from Sheffield United), J Lowe (free from Bournemouth), Chalobah (free from West Brom), Ingelsson (free from Hansa Rostock), Hamer (free from Watford), McNeill (free from Manchester United), Beadle (loan from Brighton), Onomah (free transfer), Furlong (£3m from West Brom), King (free transfer), Dickie (£2.5m from Bristol City)

Outs

Vaulks (free to Oxford United), Delgado (free to CD Everton), Dawson (free to Rotherham United), Bakinson (free to Wycombe Wanderers), Byers (free to Port Vale), James (free to Rotherham United), Gregory (free to Mansfield Town), Brennan (free to Newport County), Smith (loan to Reading), Paterson (£100k to Stockport County), Diaby (£350k to Stoke City), Valentin (loan to Birmingham City)