Hopefully it was a case of no point in going out on loan, terminate for zero cost and let him sign on a permanent basis with Sheffield. Makes you wonder how league look at this as effectively circumventing the transfer window for permanent signings.
It doesn't really help us in the January market. In this window, it clears his salary from our books (and allows another salary to take its place)
In January we can only replace people we sell (like for like and at a reduced salary cost)...
So in fact this would not work in January, as if we terminate contract then we could not replace unless with a free on a smaller salary and could not replace with a defender either. Well that is my reading
