"Will feel a bit burnt" - Sheffield Wednesday: Chansiri claim made ahead of January transfer window | OneFootball

Football League World asked our Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit, Patrick McKenna, what he expected his club's January transfer window to look like

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Sheffield Wednesday's 2-1 victory at Portsmouth last Friday night - which came courtesy of a Josh Windass equaliser followed by Michael Smith's impressive winner - left the Owls 13th in the Championship table.

After narrowly avoiding relegation last season thanks to the impressive efforts of manager Danny Rohl, who inherited a Wednesday side who were previously winless in the league, the Hillsborough faithful were left hoping for a more comfortable campaign this time around.

And given the fact that Rohl's men currently sit just four points below the play-off spots, such an eventuality is looking likely for the South Yorkshire side.

However, a long and testing Championship season could be set to leave the Owls in need of reinforcements come the January transfer window as they look to sustain their bid for relative success.

Sheffield Wednesday fears outlined over upcoming January transfer window

Football League World asked our Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit, Patrick McKenna, if he expected the club's owner, Dejphon Chansiri, to back the Owls during the January transfer window, or if they can expect a more modest window.

And despite plenty of money being spent over the summer - mainly on the marquee signing of Ike Ugbo - McKenna cannot see the Thai businessman splashing out much more at the start of 2025 to help Rohl bolster his side.

Patrick said to Football League World: "No, I don't think there will be any significant business from us in January.

"There is a possible danger, it's kind of nagging me, that Chansiri will feel a bit burnt by the summer.

"We spent money, our biggest transfer fee in a few years, on (Ike) Ugbo, and he hasn't delivered.

"It's got shades of the start of his (Chansiri's) reign here, where he spent money on players, and ultimately we saw it didn't work out.

"In the summer, yes, we did get in quite a few players.

"However, it was still quite a modest outlay in the modern day Championship, and quite a lot of those players were either loan or free transfers.

"So I do fear that, even with that, that is the budget for the season, and I can't see Chansiri convinced that there is a need to open up the purse strings again.

"So there will be movement, and I can see Danny Rohl hoping to get players in early in the window, but I think we would be looking at some loans, and maybe free transfers, so no big names coming to push on our campaign now.

"The only possible scenario where he (Rohl) would be backed would be if we were really pushing on for a play-off spot, but by January, I don't think that will happen.

"I don't think there will be too much activity or money spent at Hillsborough, and indeed, it's been quite a few years since we did spend big in January.

"Essentially, the second season of Chansiri's tenure was the last time it happened, and in our League One promotion season we didn't spend in January.

"We only got Aden Flint in on loan, while Ipswich and Plymouth spent, and I think that came back to bite us, in a way, and possibly contributed to us having to go up through the play-offs.

"I suppose we will see what will happen, but a lack of spending is my prediction for January."

Dejphon Chansiri splashing the cash on Ike Ugbo hasn't worked out for Sheffield Wednesday so far

As alluded to by Patrick, the Owls' spending budget come January may be hindered by the summer addition of Ugbo, who arrived at Hillsborough during the summer for a fee of around £2.5 million, according to the Sheffield Star.

After Ugbo spent the second half of last season on loan with Wednesday from former club Troyes, and scored seven goals in 18 Championship appearances, his signature initially appeared to be an inspired transfer.

However, since signing permanent terms with the Owls, the 26-year-old has failed to register a single goal contribution in 11 second tier outings, and has failed to meet expectations.

For the time being, it therefore appears that Chansiri spent £2.5m on a player who is not currently an asset to Rohl's side, so it is understandable that Owls fan pundit Patrick is approaching the January transfer window with a lack of optimism.