There are a great many moves for Sheffield Wednesday to make in the transfer market in the coming weeks.
The club’s new manager will have the final say on any new hires, according to reports, even though chairman Dejphon
Chansiri has emphasized that an internal recruitment team is hard at work preparing potential new contracts in the frantic
weeks leading up to the season.
The identity of that manager is still unknown.
But after David Stockdale’s release to York City was officially announced, he will travel to Middlewood Road aware that there
is only one senior goalkeeper on the roster. After battling Stockdale throughout their promotion campaign, Cameron
Dawson took the gloves at the end of the season.
Pierce Charles, a highly-ranked young former Manchester City goalkeeper, is rated at S6, and it does not seem out of the
question that the 17-year-old, who last season played third-string, may be given a more senior duty this year.
However, it appears more likely that a new manager would seek to add additional experience, either to support Dawson or to
push him, like Stockdale did, for the top slot.
Bailey Peacock-Farrell, who had a fruitful loan with Wednesday, is one player who has been mentioned as potentially
returning to Hillsborough.
A popular figure on the terraces, the Northern Ireland international has found first team opportunities hard to come by
since his return to parent club Burnley and following their promotion to the Premier League has seen Leyton Orient stopper
Lawrence Vigouroux signed as further competition for Arijanet Muric.
Peacock-Farrell is under contract at Turf Moor until the summer of 2024. It is not known whether reports of Wednesday’s
interest will have been impacted by the departure of manager Darren Moore last week.
One man impressed by the progress of former Leeds United man Peacock-Farrell is former Owls goalkeeper and manager
Chris Turner.
The 1991 League Cup winning-stopper believes a move to Wednesday would suit all parties.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Turner said: “He left on good terms. The fans liked him, which is very important and
always a good start for any player.
“With the Owls back in the Championship, I’m sure Bailey would look at it and think it as a favourable move if the opportunity came along. It would be great for everyone.
His time there was successful on a personal level, even if the club struggled a bit. There were a healthy number of clean
sheets. He would be a good signing for the club.”
Turner himself spent time in and out of squads at different stages of his career.
Peacock-Farrell is now 26 and having tasted a full season of first team involvement at S6 should now be looking to press on
and make a spot his own at a big club such as Wednesday.
But if the Owls are keen, he stressed, they won’t be alone.
“He [Peacock-Farrell] needs to be playing football,” Turner continued. “If you want to be a footballer, you want to play
football, not sitting on the bench or in the stand every Saturday.
“It is very frustrating and I would imagine even worse when you’re third choice. When they sign another and you’re pushed
down the pecking order, it’s not great, especially when it’s not the first time.
“I guess it’s time to think about moving on. It’s not the way forward, is it?
“Bailey is an ambitious lad so he wants to be playing in the Premier League. But if you can’t get that, then the next best is the
Championship.
“When a possible opportunity may arise at Wednesday, I’d think he has got to take it if he can. But Wednesday will also
know that there will be a few clubs interested in Bailey, too. They have got to move quite fast.”
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