Xisco Munoz reveals Sheffield Wednesday stance on free agents after manic transfer window
Sheffield Wednesday signed no fewer than 12 players in the summer transfer window, including the likes of Jeff Hendrick, John Buckley, Juan Delgado and Anthony Musaba
The transfer window may now be shut but that doesn’t mean Sheffield Wednesday are necessarily done in terms of incomings. One avenue that still remains open to manager Xisco Munoz is the free agents market.
There is no immediate deadline by which clubs have to offer deals to non-contracted players, with the fourth Thursday in March the final date for unregistered players to find themselves a new home.
Recent seasons have seen Wednesday dip their toes sparingly in this particular market with Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Andre Green the most recent examples albeit neither set the world alight at Hillsborough. Last week saw Wednesday sign both Jeff Hendrick and John Buckley on loan, taking their summer signings up to 12. That presents a particular dilemma for Munoz given the 25-man squad list needs to be submitted to the EFL by Wednesday at noon.
Nevertheless, Munoz says that if he spots a gem who is unattached he will not hesitate to look closely at them.
Read more: Rules on signing free agent after transfer window slams shut
When asked by Yorkshire Live if the free agents market is one he will actively look at, the Spaniard replied: “Always. It’s important. With me, I will always try to improve. If not, why not? We are thinking about what is best for the club.
You’re only thinking about how you can improve the situation and how you can improve your squad or your club. I’m working and I’m thinking. If we can do it, we will do it.
Some managers are reticent to bring in free agents given they generally have a lack of match action and sometimes need extra time to get up to speed. To this point, Munoz responded: “You need to understand I don’t only think for now. If you’re only thinking of now, for sure you wouldn’t sign some players because they haven’t had a pre-season.
“If you want a result for tomorrow, you don’t sign them. It’s impossible for them to be ready tomorrow if he needs a minimum of four, five, six weeks to be ready. But if you are thinking to improve the situation for the club, why not? If it’s better for us for the future, why not?
“I’m really happy with the squad we have but if something is good in the market, sure we have ambition to try to do it.”
