The summer transfer window opens later this month

A potential Sheffield Wednesday transfer target has emerged in Odin Bailey.

The 26-year-old is available on a free transfer after leaving Stockport County, whom he helped reach the League One play-off final this season. The midfielder has been at The Hatters since summer 2023, racking up 12 goals and 17 assists in 140 appearances, winning the League Two title along the way. He has also played for Birmingham City, Salford City, Livingston and Forest Green Rovers.

To find out a little bit more about him, we spoke to journalist Sam Byrne, who covers Stockport County for Manchester Evening News, and here’s what he said...

Was Bailey released by Stockport because they didn’t think he was good enough?

“The vibe coming from Stockport is that they believe that Odin has been offered good money from other clubs that they are not willing to match. Stockport keep talking about this new phase where they're probably not spending as much as they were. So it wasn't a case of being released because of his ability. It was money on the table and things like that. If you rewind 12 months, I don't think many people would have bat an eye had he been released, but you’ve only going to look online to see the response from Stockport fans in terms of disappointment. “

What type of player is he?

“He is a central midfielder. He is box-to-box. He is known more for his attacking side of the game rather than defensive. He's played pretty much all season alongside Ollie Norwood, which has been a massive help for him. He is one of those players that will push on in behind the strikers. It kind of became a bit of a running joke that all his goals were crackers - that he didn't score any tap-ins or anything like that. He is more of an attacking midfielder. I think he adds a nice balance because he can play with both feet. “

Has he got potential to improve?

“He's only 26 so he's coming right into the prime of his career. There's definitely growth in him. I don't think he's going to go on and be a top end Championship player, but he's a top end League One player. He did grow and improve, based primarily on who he was playing alongside. I think that helped him come out of his shell a little bit. In the 24/25 season, he seemed to retreat into himself a little bit, whereas this season just gone, he did have that kind of swagger about him.”

What formation do you think he suits best?

“He's been in a two and a three in midfield at Stockport. Around new year he started playing in a three alongside Ollie Norwood and Louis Barry, and then when Barry dropped out of the team, it became Ben Osborn, and that allowed him to focus on pushing forward. It allowed him that license to break between the lines and advance into the final third. I think you're always gonna get the best out of them if you focus on that attacking side of things. “