Jack Hunt's Sheffield Wednesday status made clear with free agent flurry yet to arrive
Henrik Pedersen has outlined the reasons for Jack Hunt’s return to Sheffield Wednesday as the club wait on the green light to bring further free agents to the club.
The Owls could receive an answer on whether or not improved cashflow forecasts will allow them to be granted access to the free agent market by the EFL. Target lists have been drawn up and have taken into account the likelihood of stringent salary caps - if indeed authorities do loosen ongoing restrictions on their recruitment after months of financial downturn under outgoing owner Dejphon Chansiri were reversed.
The Star revealed last week that Hunt had made a return to training at Middlewood Road after a change in management at Reading prevented his signing down there - but that the move was on a training brief with any chance of a signing believed to be unlikely as things stood.
Speaking after the Owls’ defeat at Southampton on Saturday, Pedersen confirmed the situation and said: “He wrote to me on Thursday and asked me if he could train Friday and I said of course. So he we will train with us until he finds something else.”
Asked whether any other free agents had been training with the club in recent weeks, Pedersen shook his head and made clear there were no plans yet scheduled for any free agents to join them at the time of speaking. The assumption is that that could change if they are to be given permission to sign a couple of non-contracted players, with the international break offering-up an opportunity for Wednesday to take a closer look at any possible additions.
The Dane confirmed former Leeds United captain Liam Cooper was a name on their potential recruitment list. Central midfield is said to be a priority, with the suggestion being that if permission is granted to strengthen the squad, the middle of the pitch will be where things are first looked at.
Speaking on Hunt a few weeks ago, Pedersen spoke glowingly of his contribution to things behind the scenes and said: “He’s a former player, and we have to take care of them. He’s a fantastic human, though, and how he’s giving to the other players, how he gave to the youngsters in the U21 game… He’s been really, really good for us and the young boys. And if we can help sometimes then we’ll do it.”