Sheffield Wednesday have been backed to sign this ‘outstanding’ midfielder in the summer, and he’ll potentially cost the Owls nothing.
Sheffield Wednesday still have a great escape on their hands. But there seems to be some focus switching to the summer, and the transfer window.
Danny Rohl, should he stay, will have a rebuilding task on his hands with a number of players out of contract.
Rohl is reportedly keen to keep the likes of Barry Bannan, Di’Shon Bernard, and Josh Windass, though it looks like several will move on, and with several players on loan too, the Owls could have a very threadbare squad come the summer.
One name linked with a move to Hillsborough though is Ian Poveda.
Sheffield Wednesday fancy permanent Ian Poveda move
Poveda, 24, joined on loan from Leeds United last month.
Since, the Colombian international has featured five times in the Championship for Sheffield Wednesday, grabbing one assist.
Poveda has now started the last four league games for the Owl, and they’ve won three of those four.
It’s thought that Poveda sees his Leeds United contract expire in the summer, but former Owls man Carlton Palmer thinks that Wednesday will need to retain their Championship status to stand a chance of signing Poveda on a permanent basis.
Palmer described Poveda as an ‘outstanding’ player, before saying:
“So Sheffield Wednesday would like to sign him [Poveda], I would assume, but that will depend on which division they are in, so this will be talked about at the end of the season,” he told Football League World.
“Should Sheffield Wednesday retain their Championship status, then I think they would be in pole position to sign Ian Poveda, who I believe is out of contract at the end of the season.
“He’s 24, so he’s at the right age and whatever happens he is going to be a free agent, and he is going to be a very hot commodity, but Sheffield Wednesday retain their status. I’m sure, working under Danny Rohl and Chris Powell and the backroom staff there, that he will want to join the club on a permanent deal.”
So much hinging on Owls survival this season
For Sheffield Wednesday, there seems to be a huge amount riding on their Championship status.
If they go down, it seems likely that Rohl would move on amid rumoured Championship interest, and it also seems unlikely that Poveda signs, and that several of their out of contract players sign new deals too.
Like Palmer suggests, Poveda seems to be enjoying his football at Sheffield Wednesday after what’s been some stop-start years for him.
He’s shown his class and the fans have quickly warmed to him, with his link-up play with Ike Ugbo giving the Owls a new and dangerous attacking outlet.
If Poveda continues to impress and then becomes a free agent in the summer, he’ll surely have Championship suitors.
But after seeing how well he’s done under Rohl, Poveda would surely be keen on staying at Wednesday, providing they beat the drop and Rohl stays.
Sheffield Wednesday return to action against Rotherham United on Saturday, with kick off at 3pm.