Terriers eye up move for United teen Bernard
three clubs yet to do even that and a further four having brought in just two players.
But the worry is that few Championship sides require quite the level of reconstructive surgery that Town need, as their placement at the top of that ‘minutes lost’ league table - as well as their placement towards the bottom of the actual league table last season make clear.
As discussed on the latest episode of our podcast Ooh To Be A..., this transfer window feels like everyone is just waiting for a couple more dominoes to fall.
But with the window not set to close until October 5 - four games
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our website www. yorkshirejewellers.co.uk into the new Championship season - there is a concern they may not begin to topple in earnest until well after the season has started.
With Norwich City, Brentford and Nottingham Forest up first for Town and a pre-season injury crisis already affecting numerous key positions – including central midfield, central defence and goalkeeper – can the Terriers really afford to wait that long?
None of this is to suggest the club are unaware of these facts.
Reports have suggested a deal could be struck to bring Leeds United midfielder Robbie Gotts in on loan. The Examiner understands the club are looking at central defenders, with Manchester United youngster Di’Shon Bernard believed to be of interest, and Ryan Schofield’s broken thumb may force the hunt for a third goalkeeper to supplement Ben Hamer to be reprioritised.
The impending departures of any, or all, of Hadergjonaj, Ramadan Sobhi and maybe Kongolo could well set off the domino effect the Terriers need to get things moving on the other side of the ledger.
So for all each passing day ramps up the tension, we are still not at panic stations just yet. But another new face or two really would go a very long way to settling the nerves of a few anxious fans.
HUDDERSFIELD Town and their Championship rivals have no idea yet when supporters will be able to return to grounds.
The Covid-19 pandemic has driven a stake through the heart of football and robbed it of the people who are the very lifeblood of the game.
Fans have not been allowed at games since March - with the resumption and completion of the Championship last season taking place behind closed doors.
It was a surreal experience for players, staff, media and essential staff inside grounds and football needs the paying public now more than ever to start a recovery from the disastrous lockdown.
Town’s opening home game against Norwich City will be behind closed doors. Clubs have been talking through the logistics of allowing fans back in and the best suggestion is that most are aiming for mid-October.
This would be a limited return not full grounds - and clubs are looking at home supporters only to start with.
That’s because they want as many of their own fans to be able to watch their team as possible and because, from a Covid point of view, it’s easier to administrate.
How they bring that about, however, has still to be sorted and Town are keen to consult with fans to gain their thoughts.
If mid-October becomes a possibility, then Town have the ideal opportunity to maybe launch their own project.
Carlos Corberan’s side are at home to Derby County on Wednesday, October 21, and Preston North End the following Saturday, October 24.
Either of those games could be the first chance for Town fans to watch the Terriers once again.
That would be fantastic for the club and for Corberan and the players, but mostly for the fans who are desperate to savour the matchday experience once again.
When Town fans might also be able to travel to away games again is, however, a tougher one to answer.
HUDDERSFIELD Town are tracking the progress of Manchester United’s Di’Shon Bernard.
Reports indicate the defender is a target for the Terriers, but they will have to battle Coventry City for his signature.
The 19-year-old centre-back, who was previously on the books at Chelsea, made his senior debut for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side in the Europa League in November.
The Examiner understands Town are indeed monitoring Bernard, however, a deal is not imminent.
The Terriers have plenty of options at centre-back, with captain Christopher Schindler, record signing Terence Kongolo, January transfer Richard Stearman, the returning Tommy Elphick and hot prospect Rarmani Edmonds-Green offering Carlos Corberan plenty of good options.
However, Kongolo has been linked with a move away from the Terriers with three clubs reportedly interested in the Dutchman, while Schindler, Stearman and Elphick are all aged 30 or over.
Another centre-back option, Jon Gorenc Stankovic, left Town for Austrian side Sturm Graz on a free transfer after his contract expired last month.
Bernard may, therefore, present an interesting long-term option for the Terriers, whose academy policy revolves heavily around picking up prospects from Premier League clubs.
Matty Daly (Everton), Jaden Brown (Tottenham) and Demeaco Duhaney (Manchester City) all came via that route and played multiple times in the first team last season, with
Daly signing a new long-term deal with the club on
Thursday.