Sheffield Wednesday have brought young midfielder Matthew Whittingham in for a trial, according to a report from The Star.
Sheffield Wednesday remain in limbo as the new season moves closer and closer. SWFC had a proposed takeover moving in the right direction, but that has fallen away and big concerns remain over the future of the club.
As it stands though, Danny Rohl remains in charge. The German will be entering the 2025/26 campaign with a threadbare squad, likely bolstered by youngsters from the academy.
Image courtesy of: ED SYKES/REUTERS.
The Owls are under a transfer embargo and are limited to free transfers and loans, but with barely enough money to operate, additions aren’t at the forefront of Hillsborough minds.
Nonetheless, trialists have played part in pre-season games for Sheffield Wednesday, and the latest to be named is 20-year-old midfielder Matthew Whittingham.
According to a report from The Star, the St. Helens-born youngster played in a 2-0 defeat for the SWFC U21s against Derby County at the weekend.
Whittingham is available for nothing after his contract with Premier League side Wolves was not renewed at the end of the season. As such, he is on the lookout for a new team, and he might just find it in the form of Championship crisis club Wednesday.
Who is Matthew Whittingham?
Young midfielder Whittingham is still very much in the developmental stages of his career, but he has had a promising time in academy football to date.
The recent Sheffield Wednesday trialist started his footballing journey in the Liverpool youth setup but he switched to Manchester City as a youngster. Eight years there saw Whittingham progress to U18 level, but he was then snapped up by Wolves in 2023.
Matthew Whittingham’s club stats (via Transfermarkt)
A rise to U21 level was offered at Molineux and Whittingham found opportunities to train with the first-team, even making it to the bench for a Premier League game vs Arsenal in December 2023.
Though mainly playing as a central midfielder, he can operate deeper or in a more advanced role. Whittingham has also offered his services as a left-back on occasion.
Image courtesy of: ED SYKES/REUTERS.
Sheffield Wednesday ranks left bare after summer transfer window
As touched on before, the Sheffield Wednesday squad has been left in a desperate state after a disastrous summer transfer window.
Of the departments within the squad though, midfield is a real concern. Barry Bannan has kept training with SWFC but is not under contract, so there are just three senior central midfielders on the books.
With only Nathaniel Chalobah, Svante Ingelsson and Sean Fusire contracted as first-team options, it isn’t out of the question that someone like Whittingham can come in and quickly stake a claim for a place in the team.
The Owls will hope to address this, but the chances of them doing so seems very slim.
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