Sheffield Wednesday are in the race to sign Arsenal gem Mika Biereth. But the Owls may struggle to make a deal happen.
Sheffield Wednesday have re-added January target Mika Biereth to their summer transfer wishlist, following his impressive 2023/24 campaign.
The Danish striker scored six on loan for Motherwell during the first half of the campaign and then five more with Austrian outfit Sturm Graz, whom he helped win the league title ahead of Red Bull Salzburg.
Both Wednesday and Graz are keen to sign Biereth from Arsenal this summer; the Owls are apparently desperate to bring in attacking additions with Duncan McGuire back on their radar, as well as loan star Ike Ugbo.
But Danny Rohl may have been dealt an early setback in a potential bid to sign Biereth this summer, either on loan or on a permanent deal.
Sheffield Wednesday dealt potential setback in Mika Biereth race
On Wednesday, it was claimed that Sturm Graz were unlikely to re-sign Biereth this summer, given interest from England.
But now, a report from Austrian outlet Kronen Zeitung suggests that Sturm Graz believe they can afford a deal for Biereth, who is thought to be on a low wage at Arsenal; SalarySport claim that Biereth earns £4.9k-a-week at the Emirates Stadium.
What’s more, the same report from Kronen Zeitung highlights the ‘trump card’ that Sturm Graz have in the race to sign Biereth, which is the fact that they can offer Champions League football after winning the Austrian Bundesliga.
Lastly, Kronen Zeitung also say that Mikel Arteta will bring Biereth back to Arsenal for their pre-season tour of the USA, after suggestions earlier in the year that Arteta was weighing up whether to do so.
Sheffield Wednesday may have their own trump card in Mika Biereth race
Per Salary Sport, if Biereth joined Sheffield Wednesday on a £4.9k-a-week deal, he’d be the second-lowest-paid player, ahead of only Bailey Cadamarteri.
Whilst that must be taken with a pinch of salt, it certainly seems like those wages would be affordable for the Owls, especially so after it was recently revealed that Dejphon Chansiri may plan to spend more on wages than actual transfer fees this summer.
But the Champions League trump card may be an obstacle too high for the Owls. It would be a great opportunity for Biereth; not only to play in the competition itself but to further put himself in the shop window.
Expect any deal for Biereth to happen later in the summer, though. Arteta will want to see what all the hype is about and there’s a chance that he’s kept around for the next 2024/25 season,if he manages to impress that much.
Sheffield Wednesday, whilst maybe not the favourites for Biereth, are certainly in the race.
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