SHEFFIELD Wednesday will be bracing themselves this weekend to fight off a bid for central defender Richard Wood.
There is speculation in the Midlands that Coventry City are set to follow long-standing interest in the Owls skipper with a bid to tie up a deal before the closure of the transfer window at midnight on Monday.
With their squad resources spread thinly and sparse defensive cover after the recent injury to Richard Hinds on top of Frank Simek's long absence, Wednesday appear in no position to let their skipper go.
A huge offer, one they simply could not afford to turn down, would be needed to even tempt them.
Even then Wednesday could hardly let a player in a key position go without an adequate replacement, unless the player in question indicates he would like to go.
Manager Brian Laws is unlikely to offer Coventry or any club encouragement unless he has been working to line up a replacement.
After tomorrow's game at Swansea, there is a fortnight's break until the next fixture on September 13 by which time emergency loan transfers will be permitted.
The Coventry interest initially surfaced last season and appeared to stiffen a couple of months ago.
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