The Millers are not messing about in this summer transfer window, having already got three deals over the line
Along with Sheffield Wednesday’s George Byers and Reece James, Rotherham United is also interested in versatile Derby County player Louie Sibley and Barnsley defender Jordan Williams.
Towards the close of the 2023–2024 season, the Millers made the unexpected decision to fire Leam Richardson and replace him with Stevenage manager and former head coach Steve Evans.
Evans and his team are not playing around in the transfer market, as is customary for him. Bringing in some of the best League One talent for their first season back in the third division since they were promoted in the 2021/22 campaign, they have been among the most active teams in the EFL transfer window.
In addition to signing Portsmouth’s Joe Rafferty, who won promotion, and Northampton Town’s Sean McWilliams, a midfielder, Rotherham has already signed striker Jonson Clarke-Harris. However, they will also be bidding farewell to star custodian Viktor Johansson, who will play for Stoke City in June.
The Potters want to do their business in the window as soon as possible.
The Millers’ spending budget will have a little more wiggle room thanks to this deal for the Swedish international; four players have been named as targets.
Rotherham aims to take on Sheffield Wednesday, Derby County, and the quartet from Barnsley.
According to Darren Witcoop, United is planning to make approaches for Louie Sibley of Derby, Barnsley’s Jordan Williams, and Byers and James, who were formerly of Wednesday.
When their contracts expire, the Owls duo will be released by the team. The Millers were reportedly interested in left-back James and midfielder Byers, according to the Sheffield Star.
However, new information about Sibley and Williams has surfaced. The former is negotiating a new contract at Pride Park with Derby.
Sibley entered the Rams’ academy as an attacking midfielder, but under Paul Warne, he was forced to play a variety of positions on the pitch. Towards the end of the season, he settled in as a left wing-back, where he finished with three goals and four assists in League One.
Although those rankings have swiftly shifted, teams like Norwich City and Fulham were formerly classified as yo-yo teams between the Championship and the Premier League.
The Millers, who have fluctuated between the second and third tiers frequently over the previous eight or so years, have also been closely linked to that expression.
They have to find a method to break out from this pattern. Although the players they have already signed and are being linked to are undoubtedly talented enough for League One, in order to give themselves the best chance, they may need to rebuild the team in the event of promotion.
During the second half of the 23–24 season, Byers was on loan to Blackpool, where he made a big contribution. There are grounds for optimism in the second tier there as well, since he appeared in almost 20 Championship games for the Owls prior to joining the Seasiders in January.
While James, his defensive teammate, didn’t play much for Danny Röhl, he has solid third-tier experience.
Sibley also has Championship experience. Does his resume demonstrate that he will be prepared for the next step forward, whether it is through staying with the Rams or maybe signing with Rotherham? Not in a big way. However, some of that is due to his age, and he could become a player of that calibre as he develops.
| George Byers, Reece James and Louie Sibley’s career Championship and League One stats | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| League | Apps | Starts | Goals | Assists | Average Match Rating | |
| George Byers | Championship | 78 | 59 | 5 | 2 | 6.85/10 |
| League One | 78 | 60 | 12 | 7 | 6.92/10 | |
| Reece James | Championship | 30 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 6.62/10* |
| League One | 149 | 114* | 10 | 8* | 6.93/10* | |
| Louie Sibley | Championship | 67 | 30 | 7 | 2 | 6.64/10 |
| League One | 80 | 49 | 6 | 4 | 6.79/10 | |
| Stats taken from Sofascore – *data missing from season(s) | ||||||
Rotehrham will be a formidable team in League One if they succeed in capturing even a few of their new targets. The real question, though, should be whether they can compete in the second tier. Since it is the club’s objective, it must be considered.
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