What Garry Monk said about his striker search and whether there is money to be spent at Sheffield Wednesday

The need for Sheffield Wednesday to add a striker to their squad was further highlighted at the Bescot Stadium as the Owls had to wait for penalties to squeeze past League Two Walsall.
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The 0-0 clash was Wednesday’s first of the 2020/21 season and saw Owls boss Garry Monk line up with two midfielders – Adam Reach and Izzy Brown – leading the line.

Recognised forward Jordan Rhodes started on the bench with new signing Josh Windass, while fellow new boy Elias Kachunga was rested ahead of involvement in the coming weeks.

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Speaking to The Star in the minutes after the game, Monk reiterated the need to add a striker and went some way to explaining the financial constraints the club are working under.

Owls Kadeem Harris gets away from Walsall's Josh Gordon. Pic Steve EllisOwls Kadeem Harris gets away from Walsall's Josh Gordon. Pic Steve Ellis
Owls Kadeem Harris gets away from Walsall's Josh Gordon. Pic Steve Ellis

Asked whether the club were looking primarily in the loan market or whether they were looking at free agents, he said: “We’re trying everything.

“We haven’t got the luxury of before, which is understandable in terms of the pandemic and where clubs are at now, but as I’ve said we have to cut our cloth accordingly and work in the market we can work in.

“I’m delighted with the players that have come in but it’s about finding the right ones and that quality. That market is competitive and the more competitive it gets the more expensive it gets the more expensive it gets and that can outmanoeuvre you in terms of what you can and can’t do.”

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Monk, who laughed off a suggestion that his decision to bench Rhodes was a message to owner Dejphon Chansiri, admitted earlier in the week that nothing was imminent in their pursuit of a new forward after the additions of Windass and Kachunga.

It’s an ongoing process, he said, and the club are doing all they can.

“Everyone is working really, really hard, everyone behind the scenes knows what we need and it’s about working that process every day,” he said.

“Maybe when I get in [to the changing room], I’ll have another phonecall and it’ll be something different that happens today. It’s an ongoing thing and that’s all I can say at this moment in time.

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Asked whether paying a transfer fee is out of the question for Wednesday, Monk said he was accepting of the position the club were in and that if that right opportunity arose, there may be scope for a move of that kind.

“I don’t think it’s a situation where we’re able to do what’s been done in the past," he said. “But I’m sure as the chairman has always done, if there’s a situation where he feels he can support it then he will do.

“Obviously with every decision, the chairman is the one that will sanction anything, quite rightly so, and he’s always said that if he feels he can help and do it then he will always do that. It’s a case of adjusting you plan.

“As a manager you want as much quality as you can, but that can be expensive at times, so we’re just going to work in a way that fits in with the club and where we’re at.”

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