Sheffield Wednesday will see one of their winter targets become a free agent again next month, unless his current club renews his stay.
Sheffield Wednesday were desperate to sign a striker during the winter transfer window, with links to the likes of Duncan McGuire and Scott Hogan.
The Owls pushed hard to sign McGuire from Orlando City on deadline day but lost the battle to Blackburn Rovers.
McGuire though would eventually return to Orlando owing to a paperwork error from Rovers; the Owls are said to have retained an interest in McGuire who’s now scored five goals in 10 MLS appearances this season.
Hogan meanwhile looks set to become a free agent next month after Birmingham City’s relegation to League One.
So options are opening up for Danny Rohl who’ll need strikers this summer with Ashley Fletcher and Lee Gregory leaving, potentially along with the likes of Josh Windass and Ike Ugbo, unless Wednesday can re-sign the latter.
Dwight Gayle set to become a free agent at Derby County
Another striker who Sheffield Wednesday were interested in this year, but another one they missed out on, was Dwight Gayle.
The 34-year-old was let go by Stoke City shortly after the January transfer window slammed shut, prompting a number of Football League clubs to show an interest.
But it was Derby County who signed him. Gayle would go on to score three goals in six League One appearances before picking up a hamstring injury which ruled him out of the final few weeks of the season.
Out of contract next month, there’s no news or rumours suggesting that the Rams will renew his stay ahead of their return to the Championship, and it could prompt another wave of interest in the former Newcastle United man.
Why a Sheffield Wednesday return for Dwight Gayle could work
On the surface of it, Gayle doesn’t look like a very attractive signing for a Championship club; 34 years old and currently injured.
Though his injury isn’t thought to be a serious one and he could be fit for pre-season, going into the summer on the back of a prolific, albeit short-lived spell with Derby County.
Gayle certainly struggled in his previous stint with Stoke City after scoring just three goals in 45 total Championship appearances.
But like so many in the Sheffield Wednesday ranks, Gayle could be one who flourishes under Rohl, and there’s reason to believe that Gayle could do so.
He’s still a very nimble player despite his age, and someone who can be very clinical in the box as we saw during his Derby County stint.
And he’d bring something a bit different to the Wednesday attacking options; as things stand, the Owls only options are Bailey Cadamarteri and Michael Smith who are arguably both target men compared to Gayle, Smith especially.
Also, having Gayle in the side alongside youngsters like Cadamarteri could really be beneficial to their development, so there’s real potential with a free swop for Gayle.
Whilst not a world-beating signing, it could be a very useful one for the Owls, especially if a return for Ugbo doesn’t work out, and Windass leaves as a free agent.
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