Sheffield Wednesday face competition from a number of clubs to sign Blackpool loan man Reece James this summer, reports Yorkshire Live.
James, 29, joined Sheffield Wednesday on a season-long loan from Blackpool last summer. He went on to feature 28 times in League One for the Owls, scoring once and assisting three as he helped Wednesday earn promotion via the League One play-offs.
But his parent club Blackpool were relegated back into League One, and so what the summer holds for James remains to be seen. It’s reported that signing James on a permanent deal remains a priority for the Owls but that a host of Championship clubs have also registered an interest in signing the left-back.
Wednesday boss Darren Moore worked with James during their time at Doncaster Rovers previously, with Moore being a huge admirer of the Englishman. Moore previously said (via Examiner Live) of James:
“He’s been a really good utility player for the team with the number of positions he’s played. We’ve played him further forward and he’s certainly showed an eye for goal. We’ve seen him play in defence, in midfield and along the front line.
“He looks equally adaptable in all the positions and it shows he has a real good footballing brain.”
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James is entering the final year of his Blackpool contract and his position at the club remains to be seen, with Blackpool having recent reinstated Neil Critchley as manager ahead of their return to League One.
A return for Reece?
Moore will no doubt be keen to keep the nucleus of this Wednesday side together ahead of their Championship return. New signings are certainly needed but bringing James back on a permanent deal would be like a new signing in itself.
He’s a very useful and experienced player. He had spells in and out of the side last season but when called upon, James always delivered, and he’d be an incredibly useful player to have around for next season.
But Yorkshire Live say that Wednesday face growing Championship competition for the signing of James. Other clubs might yet be able to offer more regular game time or better compensation for James, so this isn’t a straightforward move for the Owls.
It’s certainly a move that fans would love to see go through, though.