Sheffield Wednesday are falling apart behind the scenes, and Wrexham might be just one of the many clubs who swoop down on Hillsborough and look to pick up some new signings this summer.
Wrexham are joining Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship for next season. And whilst the Owls have been in or around the second tier for much of the Century, with Wrexham having spent much of it in the non-league, the clubs have very different fortunes right now.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have given their club a whole new outlook and all-new revenue streams which has allowed for Wrexham to have a £25million transfer budget for this summer’s transfer window.
Meanwhile, Sheffield Wednesday have just been handed a restriction on transfer spending until 2027 after a string of failed payments of player wages. The Owls are crumbling and skipper Barry Bannan has been linked with a move to Wrexham.
As the situation in South Yorkshire goes from bad to worse, there are new details being shared on what the club can actually do in the transfer market, and what it might mean for the futures of names like Bannan.
Photo by George Wood/Getty ImagesThe latest on Sheffield Wednesday and what next for Wrexham transfer target Barry Bannan
As well as having a three-window transfer restriction, Sheffield Wednesday are under a registration embargo until all outstanding wages are paid in full. And The Star has now revealed further details on the matter which will surely be of interest to Phil Parkinson and Wrexham.
Whilst under embargo, the Owls can only sign players on contracts lasting for one season and loan players for half-a-season. The Star now add that there’s a £7,000-a-week cap on wages they can offer to players whilst embargoed, although the report is unsure whether that relates to renewing player contracts as well.
Bannan, now 35, has been offered a new contract at Hillsborough. His current deal expires this summer and it remains to be seen whether or not he stays, or whether he looks for pastures new in this summer’s transfer window.
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty ImagesBarry Bannan’s Sheffield Wednesday wages and whether or not Wrexham can afford him
It’s certainly a sad and desperate situation at Sheffield Wednesday. But Wrexham and indeed many other clubs could benefit from the Owls’ misfortune and sign some new players this summer.
Bannan could become hot property this summer. He’s a hugely experienced and proven Championship player, which makes him the ideal fit for the Dragons as Parkinson wants to sign Championship-proven players this summer.
And per Salary Sport, Bannan earns £23,000-a-week at Hillsborough. Already this summer, it’s been reported that Wrexham will spend big on player contracts and that the club could even pay up to £30,000-a-week for new signings, which means there’s certainly space for Bannan to arrive at the Racecourse.
But it’s understood that Bannan is open to staying at Sheffield Wednesday despite all the chaos. Though if the club’s situation worsens then he might have no choice but to leave, so for Parkinson and Wrexham, it’s simply a case of keeping an eye on how things pan out.