Sheffield Wednesday now face competition from two top flight European clubs for one of their summer transfer targets.
After beating the drop in the Championship last season, and securing the future of manager Danny Rohl, Sheffield Wednesday now have a busy summer in the transfer window ahead of them.
But with Rohl at the helm and a new feel-good factor about the club, it could be a transfer window that lays some foundations for many seasons to come.
The Owls are in need of a restart within the playing squad and that’s already commenced, with the likes of Lee Gregory and Reece James having been let go, and having joined new clubs.
Meanwhile, long-term Sheffield Wednesday names Liam Palmer and Barry Bannan have penned new contracts, with striker Josh Windass looking set to follow.
Will Vaulks is now being linked with Oxford United following their promotion from League One via the play-offs.
Names on the Owls’ radar include Karamoko Dembele, Ovie Ejaria, and loan men Ike Ugbo, Ian Poveda, and James Beadle among others.
Sheffield Wednesday look set to seal their first signing with Ben Hamer tipped to join, with former Southampton man Yan Valery also reportedly close to a move to Hillsborough.
Sheffield Wednesday face competition for Yan Valery
Angers right-back Valery, 25, previously worked with Rohl at Southampton when Rohl was an assistant coach there.
Recent reports have revealed that Valery has agreed a summer transfer to Sheffield Wednesday, though a move is not yet finalised.
Now, L’Equipe journalist Loic Tanzi has revealed on X that Sheffield Wednesday are ‘not alone’ in their pursuit of Valery.
Tanzi says that Ligue 1 side Montpellier and Belgian Jupiler outfit Standard Liege have ‘also entered into discussions’ to sign Valery this summer.
Last season, Valery featured 35 times in Ligue 2, claiming four assists as he helped Angers earn promotion to the French top flight.
Can Sheffield Wednesday win the race for Yan Valery
After an impressive season with Angers, this kind of widespread interest in Valery may be inevitable.
Right-backs, and ones who can bomb up and down the pitch like Valery are hot commodities in football right now.
Interest from top flight clubs in Europe will always be exciting for players, though whether or not Montpellier or Liege would be a step up for Valery from playing with Angers is debatable.
Neither club are playing in Europe next season and so it definitely feels like Sheffield Wednesday have a strong hand in this transfer race.
They’ve reportedly agreed terms with the player which shows his interest in returning to England and reuniting with Rohl.
Now, the Owls just need to finalise the deal, and hope that interest from Montpellier and Liege doesn’t go any further, and that Valery doesn’t have his head turned at the last minute.
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