The truth behind rumours linking Sheffield Wednesday forward Josh Windass with a shock move to Ipswich Town

Reports elsewhere claimed that the 27-year-old, who has scored six goals and claimed two assists in his first season as a permanent Owls player, could make his way for a dramatic reunion with Cook, who he played under at Wigan Athletic.

The pair have a chequered history, having clashed during their time at the DW Stadium. Cook moved Windass on to Wednesday on loan on the last day of the January transfer window last year.

Ipswich are said to have come into renewed investment since their takeover and will be looking to improve their squad in the summer but despite the reports, The Star understands that as it stands Windass will be going nowhere and that at present no interest has been expressed by the Suffolk club.

The former Rangers man joined the Hillsborough club on permanent deal for a fee understood to be around £500,000 back in September.

Despite a widely-reported falling out, Cook said on his former player in January: “Josh Windass without a shadow of a doubt, has got all the qualities to be a Premier League footballer. So when people built this [his dropping Windass from the Wigan team in January 2020] up, I was always searching for a formula that made Wigan Athletic win.

“And unfortunately for some lads along the way there was always going to be a bit of collateral damage. There was never the fallout people said, there was never a situation where the relationship was irretrievable, even today I wish Josh Windass every success in his career.

“Josh Windass is not a bad person, he’s not a bad lad. He’s the opposite. He actually loves his football, but there came a point where it was beneficial for both parties to go their separate ways.”

Windass is the club’s second-highest scorer behind target man Callum Paterson, who has seven goals in all competitions.

The Owls are looking to get their flailing survival hopes back on track on Sunday, when they face league leaders Norwich City.

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