Henrik Pedersen gives Sheffield Wednesday transfer update as Owls face anxious wait
Manager Henrik Pedersen has confirmed Sheffield Wednesday are exploring various avenues as they wait to find out what specific recruitment restrictions they may be operating under this summer.
The Owls, who were officially relegated to League One last month, are going to have to oversee a massive rebuild this summer after their squad was butchered last summer and further departures were ratified in the mid-season window to bring in valuable funds.
Prospective owner David Storch, who is the face of Arise Capital Partners LLC, recently admitted he wants to secure the keys to Hillsborough in time to be able to “play” in the summer transfer window. Talks between Arise and the English Football League are understood to be ongoing and there is confidence a deal will be concluded.
However, on top of continuing to operate under a transfer fee restriction ban, a punishment that is in place until the end of the 2027 January window, there is also the prospect of Wednesday having to operate under a £7,000-a-week salary cap, meaning that risks hindering their recruitment plans even further.
It is not unrealistic to suggest Wednesday could require a minimum of 20 new signings this summer amid the threadbare nature of their squad and the number of players that are out of contract at the end of this season. Pedersen recently admitted that it will be a “very, very, very busy summer” at Hillsborough amid the need to start afresh after a season unlike any other.
With the end of this campaign now within touching distance, Wednesday are desperate to tick off their final seven games as quickly as possible to start looking ahead to the summer and hopefully a new dawn under new ownership.
And with plenty of work to be done this summer, Wednesday are already analysing who could be available while waiting to find out exactly what they will be allowed to do.
"Of course we try to get an overview for League Two, League One, Championship, all the free transfer players," Pedersen told The Star. “From Denmark... in general.
"But now we are waiting for which level we can fly into this market, what will be possible, what will not be possible from the financial side.
“But everyone is working hard to get the best possible overview for the situation so we can be as effective as possible when the possible comes that we can start to do something."
As far as the current takeover process is concerned, Pedersen, speaking after Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Hull City at the MKM Stadium, was unable to offer any insight on its progress, admitting he is “waiting” like the rest of us to see how quickly it could be finalised.