New face James Beattie can be a big pull for Sheffield Wednesday transfer target

Only former Manchester City youngster Fisayo Dele-Bashiru has been added to a threadbare Owls squad so far this summer, with the season mooted to start as early as August 29.

Several names have been linked with a Hillsborough move, among them Wigan Athletic’s Josh Windass, who The Star understands Wednesday have made ‘tentative initial enquiries’ over as they seek to make last season’s loan move permanent.

While Wednesday are expected to face competition for the forward’s signature they do now have an ace up their sleeve in the form of assistant manager Beattie, a former manager of the 26-year-old whose recommendation brought him to Hillsborough back in January.

The former England international gave Windass his first professional contract at Accrington Stanley and has developed a reputation for developing Championship strikers, having a notable impact on the careers of Chris Wood, Lukas Jutkiewicz and Che Adams.

“Accrington gave me a chance in football when nobody else would,” said a grateful Windass upon leaving for Scottish giants Rangers in 2016.

“James Beattie gave me a contract and all I wanted to do was go in and get a few opportunities in the first team. I have pushed on from there and done well.”

Yorkshire-born Windass had a solid record with Accrington first under Beattie and then under John Coleman, scoring 23 times and claiming 13 assists in 86 matches.

Asked about the then-19-year-old after his signing at the Wham Stadium, Beattie said: “Josh is a very good young player.

“He’s got all the tools to be a top player; his range of passing, his touch, he’s very athletic and very powerful. He just needs to learn about the game a little bit more, but that will come with experience.”

Wigan are clearing the decks following the cruelty of administration, a points deduction and their subsequent relegation from the Championship last term. Windass impressed in his second half of the season with the Owls, scoring three times in nine matches and is understood to be available on a cut-price deal.

Speaking about how his son’s move to S6 came about on Alan Biggs’ Sheffield Live show back in April, Dean Windass said: “Whenever he’s come to Hull I’d have a chat with him [Garry Monk] and James Beattie.

“Obviously James Beattie signed our Josh for Accrington and that was the link there. James gave Garry some feedback about Josh and that’s how it came around.

“Me and Garry as ex-footballers, we chat and we talk and there’s a mutual respect there. And subsequently, he went and signed Josh, which was good for Josh, signing for a massive club.”

Windass is understood to be keen on the move to Wednesday having enjoyed his time there last season.

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