Sheffield Wednesday will intend on avoiding any mid-season departures where possible, with Henrik Pedersen currently working with his hands tied in charge of an extremely thin and youthful squad at Hillsborough as the Owls continue to pay the price of off-field shortcomings on the pitch.
That has, of course, been inflicted by now-ex-owner Dejphon Chansiri, under whom Wednesday suffered a summer of turmoil as a number of prised assets left the Steel City on the cheap while the club were limited to making just two loan signings in Harry Amass and Ethan Horvath.
The pair have since departed South Yorkshire and, having been struck with a litany of points deductions, Wednesday are stuck on minus seven points, cut adrift at the foot of the Championship table, with their first and only win coming over Portsmouth all the way back in September.
Relegation to League One, then, is an undoubted inevitability at this stage, though Wednesday will still be looking to retain what is left of the squad as they seek to simply get through the remainder of the campaign before rebuilding back in the third-tier.
Millwall join Blackburn Rovers, Hibernian in transfer race for Sheffield Wednesday’s Bailey Cadamarteri
But one player who could be poised to depart S6 in the coming weeks is Bailey Cadamarteri, and following interest from Championship rivals Blackburn Rovers alongside Hibernian of the Scottish top-flight, Football League World understands that Millwall are the latest club who could potentially make a move for his signature.
Millwall find themselves at the opposing end of the table and are positioned in fifth place after 26 games, with Alex Neil bidding to inject further firepower this month in order to guide the Lions back to the Premier League.
That could arrive in the form of Cadamarteri, as FLW has learned that the 20-year-old has now emerged as a target for Millwall as interest in his services continues to mount.
On Friday, Rob Staton of BBC Sheffield reported via X that Wednesday had rejected a bid worth £250,000 from Hibernian in contrast to the £1 million figure claimed elsewhere, while separate reports have also credited Blackburn with an interest.
Indeed, Cadamarteri himself is said to be open to a move to Ewood Park – though his stance on joining Millwall remains unclear at this moment in time – and the four-cap Jamaica international caused something of a social media stir over the weekend by posing for a selfie at an airport with his father, former Everton and Sheffield United striker Danny, prompting further speculation and doubt involving his future.
Sheffield Wednesday’s Bailey Cadamarteri has endured a mixed 25/26 season amid Millwall transfer interest
Akin to many young players within this current Wednesday squad, Cadamarteri’s development has suffered somewhat owing to the way he has been overused. There is, of course, little to help that, with Pedersen having been forced to utilise whoever has been available at his disposal in spite of age, form and even fitness.
Cadamarteri, who struck on five occasions across all competitions in a breakthrough 2023/24 season, scored five times on loan in League One with Lincoln City last time out before returning to lead the line for the Owls under Pedersen.
The Wednesday academy product has featured in every league outing to date, with all but five of his appearances being starts, though the striker has returned just two goals and broke his four-month goalscoring duck in his side’s 2-2 Boxing Day draw against Hull City.
Cadamarteri may not be ready to become Wednesday’s talisman quite just yet, but his long-term potential has been talked up for some time and the Owls will be eager to retain that as League One looms.
However, Millwall’s interest is yet another threat that Wednesday will have to deal with, and it would be a hammer blow to potentially see Cadamarteri fulfil his promise elsewhere.