An emerging Arsenal transfer story may well have a huge knock-on effect at Sheffield Wednesday this summer.
Sheffield Wednesday will be hard at work behind the scenes, trying to ready themselves for the 2024/25 Championship campaign in which they’ll hope to finish more comfortably than they did in 2023/24.
The Owls eventually finished in 20th place of the table and three points above the drop zone after a stunning turnaround under Danny Rohl.
There’s still question marks over Rohl’s future at the club. But if he stays then fans will hope and expect their team to perform much better in the league next time round.
And the Owls are already identifying transfer targets. Sheffield Wednesday are keen on signing Ian Poveda as a free agent and keen on re-signing Ike Ugbo on a permanent deal from Troyes.
Wednesday also want James Beadle back on loan from Brighton following the 19-year-old’s impressive performances in goal, keeping eight clean sheets in 19 league appearances for the Owls after joining in January.
Arsenal now eyeing Brighton goalkeeper signing
Arsenal look set to move on former Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale this summer, and there’s apparently a number of targets they want to replace him.
Per The Standard, the Gunners ideally want a homegrown name to ‘comply with Premier League squad rules’ and Brighton’s Jason Steele is one of several names they’re keeping tabs on.
Steele, 33, has made 16 Premier League appearances for Brighton in the 2023/24 season, sharing the starting spot with 21-year-old Bart Verbruggen.
Previous reports suggested that Brighton will promote Swansea City loan man Carl Rushworth this summer and likely loan out Beadle, though this latest interest in Steele may well change that.
Seagulls boss Roberto De Zerbi recently said that he plans to cast an eye over both Rushworth and Beadle this summer.
Sheffield Wednesday can’t do one thing where James Beadle is concerned
A new goalkeeper is certainly a key priority for Sheffield Wednesday this summer, if not the key priority.
With Cameron Dawson looking like to leave as a free agent and Beadle’s loan ending, it leaves youngsters Pierce Charles and Jack Hall as the only first-team options.
So Rohl definitely needs a tried and tested goalkeeper this summer. Beadle fits the bill, but Sheffield Wednesday simply cannot wait for his Brighton future to be finalised.
Like with many other Premier League youngsters, Beadle could be someone who’s sent out on loan later in the window when Brighton decide what to do with him.
So the Owls may need to consider other options, with two goalkeepers likely needed anyway.
Rohl and Sheffield Wednesday must start casting an eye on potential Beadle alternatives this summer, especially given the news that Arsenal could take Steele from Brighton, meaning that Beadle could well be used as a no.2 or no.3 next season.
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