Gary Hooper's poacher qualities vital for Sheffield Wednesday '“ Barry Bannan

Hooper is reported to be close to finalising a full-time move to the Owls, with Norwich City understood to have accepted a bid of around £3m.

The former Celtic forward and his representatives remained in talks with Owls officials last night ahead of what Hillsborough supporters hope will be a successful conclusion.

Hooper ended his three-month loan stint in eye-catching form, hitting six goals in his final six matches, with braces in his last two outings – the home wins over Bolton Wanderers and Leeds United – effectively earning the Owls six points.

Hooper’s match-winning contribution against Leeds last weekend helped propel Carlos Carvalhal’s side into the Championship play-off spots for the first time this season – and Owls’ midfield talisman Bannan is confident that he would be a trump card in the club’s bid to end their near 16-year absence from the top flight.

On the importance of re-signing Hooper, Bannan said: “I think it would be massive for the club.

“What Hoops would bring is important goals at important times. I think if you want to make the play-offs and go up in this league, you need a striker that is going to score the goals like he got at the weekend.

“All the strikers we have got are capable of scoring, but I think Hoops has got that natural goalscoring instinct to just pop up at the right time, like the two goals the other day.

“All the strikers here have different qualities and he is different. Hoops brings constant goals and you need that in this league.

“I would love to play with him for longer. In the last couple of weeks when he has come back to his match fitness he has been brilliant for us and won games as well.

“The two goals at the weekend were poacher’s goals and I think that is what Hoops brings to us and hopefully we will get him here.”

While Hooper’s move to South Yorkshire appears imminent, head coach Carvalhal admits to being emboldened by the fact that he has received assurances that none of his leading lights will leave the club during the current transfer window.

The Portuguese went on to reveal that some bids have been repelled by the Owls’ hierarchy, with the only outward activity involving fringe players, with Rhoys Wiggins chief among that number.

Ruling out major departures, Carvalhal – who will assess the fitness of top scorer Fernando Forestieri this morning after he left Hillsborough on crutches after securing a knee injury in the derby win over Leeds – added: “Our (leading) players are not in the market. I met with the chairman and he was very clear.

“I will not sell any players in January. It is good news for us.

“We are improving the players. Some offers have come to our players, but our chairman has made it very clear that we are not selling any players in January. That’s the reality.

““We don’t need a revolution in the team. We are in a good position.

“We have players who have come back from injuries. Not one or two, maybe five or six that I haven’t had in the last couple of months. They will be like new players.”

Carvalhal did reveal that Wiggins, a £750,000 summer buy from Charlton Athletic, has been told he can leave after acceding to his wishes to go, with the Owls immediately bringing in left-back cover for Daniel Pudil this week in the shape of Aston Villa’s Joe Bennett.

Wiggins, who has struggled to make an impression since moving north, has been linked with window moves to Brighton and Bristol City.

Carvalhal revealed: “Rhoys came to me and told me he wanted to move. It’s only him who has requested to go and I understand because he’s 28 years old and didn’t play much last season.

“He needed to play and he thinks there is strong competition with Daniel and he doesn’t have too much chance to play. I understand his situation.

“I don’t know which clubs he has (interested) and I don’t care. I care about the players who are with me. They like working with us and enjoy our work.

“If a player is not happy and want to move, we understand. Rhoys wants to play. I spoke to him face to face.

“We have not had any other requests for players to go.”

Aside from Hooper, Carvalhal says he has no “stress” about securing other incoming transfer deals and is only interested in quality recruits to improve his squad.

One player strongly linked to the Owls has been Blackburn Rovers’ Jordan Rhodes, but Carvalhal has made it clear that the package involved to sign the striker, believed to be rated at around £10m to £12m, is far too prohibitive.

He added: “Everybody knows it’s a fantasy about this player. Do you think we have £10m-£12m to pay for a striker? It doesn’t make any sense.

“He’s a player who is completely out of our budget.”