Luton Town are set to sanction a loan move that will see striker Jerry Yates move play the second half of the season in the Championship, with a forward incoming on the Hatters’ radar in the remaining days of the transfer window.
Yates’ summer transfer to Luton has been less than ideal. Joining off the back of a respectable pedigree in the Championship, having scored goals for Blackpool, Swansea City, and Derby County over the years, he returned only two goals in 22 League One appearances this year.
A mid-season clear-out has been a priority for Jack Wilshere this summer, and it appears Yates will be returning to the Championship, possibly enabling the club to move for another forward.
Jerry Yates Set for Championship Strugglers
According to reports from Pete O’Rourke, a deal has been agreed between Sheffield Wednesday and Luton Town which will see Yates join the Hillsborough outfit on loan for the remainder of the season.
As previously mentioned, Yates is a respected goalscorer in the second tier and should be certified to start for Wednesday.
With Wednesday currently sat at the foot of the table with -7 points, the move offers little risk for the striker and allows him to put himself in the market for the summer if the 29-year-old is not in Wilshere’s plans moving forward.
The move is similar to Millenic Alli’s loan to Portsmouth earlier in the window, with outgoings a clear priority for a relatively bloated Hatters squad.
Similar to Yates, the likes of Jacob Brown, Shandon Baptiste, and Marvelous Nakamba have struggled for regular minutes at Kenilworth Road this season, so further departures would not be a surprise in the penultimate days of the transfer window.
Yesterday, the club was linked with a move for Port Vale’s Devante Cole. Should the club add a striker before the deadline, this move will have freed up the wage bill to permit any incomings this week.
Does Jerry Yates Suit Sheffield Wednesday?
Yates has always been best-suited for a two-man attack, complementing his strike partner with his relentless pressing and ability to find space in the opposition box.
At Hillsborough, he will play alongside Bailey Cadamarteri and Jamal Lowe. The move presents little risk, given that relegation appears to be more than certain for the South Yorkshire outfit.
The forward will play consistent minutes at a higher level, and as previously mentioned, good form could launch the striker into the shop window this season should he stay out of Wilshere’s plans at Luton.
It is difficult to say whether any move could materialise beyond a loan, given the current uncertainties surrounding the club. However, the deal represents a lot of positives for both the club and the player.