Exclusive:Barry Bannan, Simon Wilson and new figures - Sheffield Wednesday primed for busy summer
The wheels of motion are turning behind the scenes at Sheffield Wednesday.
Sheffield Wednesday are priming for a busy summer as the cogs begin to fall into place behind their monster rebuild effort.
Exploratory discussions have taken place with a number of existing players over their contracts at S6, with some including that of Will Grainger believed to be edging towards a positive inclusion. It’s understood that other negotiations, including those of senior men Max Lowe, Svante Ingelsson and Liam Cooper, will require more work.
The impending arrival of new sporting director Simon Wilson from Stockport County is hoped to accelerate some of these talks as Wednesday look to kick on towards a new campaign that will require a great deal of incoming business. Wilson’s hire, which has been subject to outline vetting checks that are now understood to have been passed, would also stand to grease the wheels on incoming transfer business. Confirmation of Wilson’s arrival is believed to be imminent.
Among the very real possible additions is an old face in Barry Bannan. The club legend former Owl left Wednesday in January for Millwall, where he fell just short of automatic promotion. The plausibility of his return this summer is of course no secret and The Star understands that some level of formal talks have taken place with regard to a Hillsborough switch, with Millwall seemingly willing and able to let him leave. Bannan is believed to be keen on a return having made no secret of a desire to retire at S6.
Another name understood to have been discussed behind the scenes is that of Jamie Vardy, the boyhood Wednesdayite who was released by the Owls as a teenager before going on to scale the heights of Premier League glory and World Cup involvement. Again, exploratory discussions are believed to have taken place but as things stand The Star has no reason to believe there is firm momentum behind any move. Vardy is of interest to a wide range of clubs and has publicly intimated his desire to take his time over his decision, while ruling out a return to Leicester City.
Links have begun to creep into Wednesday’s summer, with Everton defender Reece Welch said to be a potential target. Premier League loanees are obviously a landing ground for the Owls’ intended business, while The Star has reason to believe the MLS market is one the club are considering.
Elsewhere, hires are understood to be close at non-football levels of the club as new owners Arise seek to press on with an improvement of a club infrastructure left behind by former chairman Dejphon Chansiri. The club understood to be looking to implement a ‘leadership group’ to add an extra layer of structure into the day-to-day running of the club. This will come alongside the long-since signposted return of a club board.
With ongoing work taking place at the stadium and pre-season programmes already in place, the start of a manic summer of Sheffield Wednesday activity is upon us.