Everything Neil Harris and Garry Monk have said on Callum Paterson's transfer to Sheffield Wednesday

And yet three days on from the assertion of both Sheffield Wednesday manager Garry Monk and Cardiff City boss Neil Harris that a deal for Callum Paterson was imminent, the Scotland international is yet to be unveiled as an Owls player.

Speaking after his side’s first league defeat of the season at Bristol City on Sunday, Monk went as far as to suggest the deal could be confirmed later that evening and described the difference Patterson would make to the Owls frontline.

A day earlier Harris appeared to confirm a deal was close, also, though there was confusion from the Cardiff board who seemed perplexed at the suggestion their manager wasn’t 100 per cent behind the sale.

The 25-year-old utility man is a cult hero in South Wales having made over 100 appearances for the club since his transfer from Hearts in 2017.

Former Millwall manager Harris said: “I've been told today that a deal is close to being agreed between Sheffield Wednesday and Cardiff,

“If he is (leaving) then we wish Pato all the best. If not then I look forward to seeing him on Monday.”

He added: “I left Callum out of the squad today because I was informed that there might be an agreement between the clubs likely to happen.

“I am the manager of the football club and support the club in the decisions they make.

“It's not about me as an individual it's about me having options within the squad. Callum is one of our attacking players and we need to have strength in depth during the course of the season.

“I've talked about adding in that area of the pitch already and if Callum is moving on then we need to add to it.”

Responding to supporter interpretations that Harris had not sanctioned the transfer, Bluebirds chairman Mehmet Dalman told Wales Online on Sunday evening: “We would never sell a single player without the manager telling us to sell him. He makes the decision.”

The Star has received no reason to believe a deal to bring Paterson to Wednesday has been jeopardised by the Cardiff back-and-forth. Reports in Wales suggest the deal remains close and that Garry Monk may have the Scot at his disposal for the visit of QPR on Saturday.

“I’ve not spoken to the club today on anything like that and they’ll let me know if that is confirmed and agreed,” he said when asked about the deal on Sunday.

“Callum is obviously someone we’re very interested in. We’re talking between the clubs.

“Hopefully that can be confirmed tonight.

“Callum, if we can, I don’t want to talk too prematurely before it’s done, will bring that physicality side of it.

“We’ve got other strengths and elements to the forward line but we don’t have that physicality.

“There are games this season in the Championship typically where we’ll need that option of that physicality and mobility as well.

“We don’t have that in the forward line. It’s something that we lost in the summer and we’re just looking to replace that.

“If it’s confirmed and we can bring him in, then he’ll fill that void and contribute to the other attributes in those areas so that’s the thinking behind it.”

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