Sheffield Wednesday: Middlesbrough pair on Owls' radar and Bannan's going nowhere

Sheffield Wednesday could be set to raid newly promoted Middlesbrough for midfield pair Adam Forshaw and Adam Reach.
Middlesbrough's Adam Forshaw (left)Middlesbrough's Adam Forshaw (left)
Middlesbrough's Adam Forshaw (left)

Wednesday are keen to add both on season-long loan deals according to national newspaper reports.

Midfield is viewed as a key area of the squad to be improved this summer, particularly adding depth with wide areas set for the most attention.

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Left sided winger Reach would fulfil that objective and the £2m rated 23-year-old can also provide cover at left back, another position in which the Owls lack depth.

Reach - a reported target for Preston North End this summer after a successful loan spell at Deepdale in the 2014/15 season - made 42 appearances for Boro during the promotion winning campaign and would be keen to fight for a place in the side in the Premier League.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are understood to have made an enquiry about Reach’s availability for the coming season and, like Wednesday, would prefer a season-long loan.

Less likely to receive game time at Boro in the top flight is Forshaw. The 24-year-old central midfielder made 34 appearances last season, starting just 13 matches.

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Forshaw joined Boro in January 2015 and appeared in all except one of the club’s remaining games that season.

Meanwhile, current Wednesday midfielder Barry Bannan was quick to rubbish suggestions he would be leaving Hillsborough this summer.

The Scottish midfielder was one of Wednesday’s top performers last season as they mounted a promotion push which took them to the play-off final.

And Internet rumours over the weekend suggested he is a £5m target for relegated Newcastle United as they begin rebuilding for life in the Championship.

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But Bannan himself was quick to deny his stay with Wednesday could be over less than a year after joining on a free transfer.

When asked if the suggestion was true, he wrote on Twitter: “course it ain’t mate don’t be silly.”

Speculation regarding player departures from Hillsborough this summer was inevitable following Wednesday’s excellent season and run to the Championship play-off final.

Goalkeeper Keiren Westwood has been tipped to be on the radar of several Premier League clubs after two superb campaigns with the Owls and, in particular, his brilliant performance against Hull City at Wembley.

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And centre half Tom Lees is a target for Burnley, newly promoted to the top flight.

Wednesday’s hierarchy reiterated after the play-off final defeat that the club’s top players were not for sale.

Head coach Carlos Carvalhal said if anyone did leave it would be because he could find a player of at least equal quality as a replacement.