Sheffield Wednesday talks over Aston Villa signing continue - timescale detail
Sheffield Wednesday have continued their efforts in their squad rebuild project while the football operation continues to prepare overseas.
Talks between Sheffield Wednesday and Aston Villa over the potential loan switch of attacking midfielder Tommi O’Reilly have continued today, The Star understands, as the Owls seek to add to their attacking options.
The 22-year-old earned widespread admirers on loan with Crewe Alexandra last season, bagging seven goals and 14 assists from the right wing across 50 appearances. Other clubs are understood to be interested in the signing of the Birmingham-born youngster and though it is stressed no deal is done, sources suggest the Owls are in a good position to sign him should things continue to move forward.
Wednesday’s first team operation are out in Hungary on a training camp on the outskirts of Budapest at current. It was believed to be possible that any new additions could have joined up with the squad ahead of Saturday’s friendly clash with Stoke City in Vienna, though that is understood to be highly unlikely as things stand.
Asked on O’Reilly in conversation with local media earlier today, Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen kept his cards close to his chest, but did confirm any prospect of wrapping up a deal in time for him to join their trip to Europe were slim. The Owls finish-up at their Budapest training camp on Thursday before a travel day making the trip to Vienna for their behind-closed-doors friendly clash with Stoke City on Saturday.
“I think maybe we have 20 players right now on the list for the position we are searching,” Pedersen said. “We are speaking with players. So right now, I don't think there will come any players into the training camp. But we are working really hard to find the next one.”
Wednesday are working on a number of deals at current, with work still to be done as the clock ticks towards the start of the season. Much of their work may well come late in the window as is normal in terms of loan deals this year in particular, with many Premier League clubs likely to hold off on the release of young players until players return from their post World Cup break.
“Of course, we still need some offensive players,” Pedersen said. “We still need a nine. We still need a right-sided winger. We still need more players. Simon (Wilson), Kevin (Beadell), the coaches, we help each other. We are working very, very hard to to find some really, really good solutions. I'm really happy with the players we have got, and if we can keep this level, then it's looking very positive.”