Sheffield Wednesday are reportedly rivalling Championship rivals West Brom for the signing of a free agent centre-back.
Sheffield Wednesday are poised to complete their 9th signing of the summer with former England international midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah set to join on a free transfer.
It’s another strong addition for Danny Rohl’s side who are rapidly putting together a strong-looking first-team squad in time for the 2024/25 Championship campaign, which kicks off in August.
There’s several more irons in the fire, too, with Sheffield Wednesday working on a deal to re-sign Ike Ugbo following his impressive loan spell in the second half of the 2023/24 season.
Elsewhere, Sheffield Wednesday continue to be loosely linked with another former loan man in Ian Poveda.
Now though, a new name is reportedly wanted at Hillsborough. Though Sheffield Wednesday face stern competition from Championship rivals West Brom for the signing of this free agent centre-back.
Sheffield Wednesday rivalling West Brom in race to sign Mickael Nade
Reports coming out of France from national outlet L’Equipe claim that Sheffield Wednesday and West Brom are both keen on centre-back Mickael Nade.
Nade, 25, is a free agent after being released by St Etienne, with whom he’s spent his whole career so far.
The Frenchman made his first-team debut in 2017 and has since racked up 79 first-team appearances for St Etienne, with 26 of those coming in Ligue 2 last time round as Etienne won promotion to Ligue 1.
L’Equipe say that St Etienne remain hopeful of Nade re-signing ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, but that Championship duo Sheffield Wednesday and West Brom ‘appreciate’ Nade.
Mickael Nade arrival at Sheffield Wednesday may suggest heartbreak for Danny Rohl
Emerging links to a centre-back are exciting, as it’s one position that Rohl is yet to bolster but one that he desperately needs to do so.
Currently, Rohl’s options in that position are Michael Ihiekwe, Bambo Diaby, Michael Ihiekwe, and Dominic Iorfa, with Di’Shon Bernard technically out of contract.
So another new name is needed at centre-back and links to Nade may suggest that Sheffield Wednesday are set to be disappointed by Di’Shon Bernard, whose future remains very much up in the air.
Re-signing Bernard would be a huge coup for Sheffield Wednesday. But with the Jamaican international having interest from elsewhere; from the Championship and around Europe, tempting him back to the club may prove difficult.
But if Sheffield Wednesday continue to put together a strong summer transfer window then Bernard may well consider a return to S6.