Stoke in trio of play-off hopefuls reported to be interested in signing veteran playmaker
Barry Bannan has been a fixture in the Sheffield Wednesday midfield for 10 years.(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
Stoke City, their old boss Alex Neil and Preston North End are rumoured to be weighing up a mid-season move for Sheffield Wednesday stalwart Barry Bannan.
Bannan is 36 now and out of contract in the summer, having moved to Hillsborough in 2015 and racked up 474 appearances over the last decade.
He has been an ever-present this term and scored three times and set up another three in a side that is doomed to League One following crises off the pitch.
Sky Sports claim that he could be on the move this month, with Stoke, fifth-placed Millwall, fourh-placed North End and two unnamed Scottish clubs weighing up a bid.
Stoke are well stocked in the midfield department, with Ben Pearson, Tomas Rigo, Steven Nzonzi, Tatsuki Seko and Bosun Lawal competing for two spaces against Queens Park Rangers this weekend. Lewis Baker is due back from injury in about a fortnight.
Mark Robins is looking for an extra bit of quality to help the Potters break back into the top six and is expected to be exploring options in the final third.. It remains to be seen what emerges that is within budget and the manager has referred to January “not necessarily a pleasant” window.
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