James, who is 29 years old, went on loan to Sheffield Wednesday last year. The full-back made 28 appearances in League One games, contributing three assists in addition to one goal as the Owls won promotion back to the Championship.
The Blackpool player participated in all three of Wednesday’s play-off contests and contributed one of Wednesday’s six goals against Peterborough United in the second leg of the semifinals.
Since his parent club Blackpool was relegated, there have been rumors that James is wanted back at Hillsborough in time for the upcoming season. The Star has now verified that talks are taking place for the Blackpool player to return, but that nothing has been decided as of yet.
James discussed the potential implications of the upcoming summer after Wednesday’s promotion.
Reece James nails down Sheffield Wednesday hopes as Blackpool future remains unclear
The 29-year-old has become a popular figure at S6 since joining on loan from Blackpool at the start of the season, playing 34 games across all competitions and scoring one of the most important goals of the campaign – the third in the play-off semifinal second leg against Peterborough United.
James has one year left on his contract with the Tangerines, but his future remains very much up in the air following their relegation into League One, with Wednesday going in the opposite direction up into the Championship.
Only time will tell what lies ahead for the former Sunderland and Doncaster Rovers man, but it would appear that his preference would be to reunite with Darren Moore next season once again for 2023/24.
Speaking to The Star during the club’s civic reception at the Town Hall, James said, “Obviously I’ve got to see what happens and hopefully something can get done, but I’ve enjoyed my time here. It’s been incredible, far more than what I expected was going to happen. I fell in love with the club, the city, everything about it – but I’ll have to see what happens, what plays out over the summer. I’ll be patient. I’ve absolutely loved my time here, and we’re all Wednesday aren’t we?”
Wednesday are expected to have a busy summer in the transfer market, and it would be absolutely no surprise to see them make contact with Blackpool about potentially bringing James back to the club for a second stint.
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‘I was done’ – Why Lee Gregory ran off alone as Sheffield Wednesday man makes contract admission
The job was done, Windass’ header would prove to be the last touch of the game, and the Owls’ number nine just didn’t have the energy to make it over to celebrate with the teammate that he’d just set up for a famous winner.
It was his 40th goal contribution in Wednesday colours, and undoubtedly his most memorable. But after 120 minutes in the sun under the arch, he ‘was done’.
He later admitted to The Star, “I’ll be honest, it was an emotional drain – I was just thankful.” “I saw Josh running all the way there and I thought, ‘I can’t be arsed, it’s too far!'” Thank God it was the final kick of the game because I was completely out of it emotionally and physically. I was through.
“It was all a big sigh of relief, especially with the way that the game went. It almost went to pens, but thankfully it didn’t and we go the win!”
The win meant that Wednesday will be playing in the Championship next season, that much is certain, but – for now at least – there are no guarantees surrounding the man that set up their Wembley winner.
For the man himself, though, he’s got no doubts about where he wants to be.
For the man himself, though, he’s got no doubts about where he wants to be.
For the man himself, though, he’s got no doubts about where he wants to be.”I would love to stay,” he told the media. “I love it here. Unfortunately, it’s not up to me. If it was then I’d have been signed ages ago.
Hopefully I can get something sorted – so we’ll see.”Gregory picked up 17 goals and assists in 2022/23 as he helped the Owls on the way to promotion, including one of each in the play-offs to seal the deal, and has become a hue crowd favourite in his home city since making the move from Stoke City in 2021.
Wednesday do have an option on Gregory’s deal to extend by a further year, but as things stand there has been no confirmation as to whether it will be exercised or not.
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Sheffield Wednesday supporters contribute to breaking the attendance record at Wembley.
This season’s English Football League play-offs drew close to 500,000 spectators, with Sheffield Wednesday supporters playing a significant role in the record turnout.
Josh Windass’ last-second diving header in front of them on the sacred Wembley turf sent about 46,000 into delirium as they watched the Owls take on Barnsley on Monday afternoon. It was the final game of 15 that took place since the EFL seasons in the Championship, League One, and League Two came to an end, and the total number of fans reached 443,754 – a new record for a play-off campaign.
The biggest attendance of the weekend was the Championship final between Coventry City and Luton Town, with almost 86,000 attending, while an impressive 46,000 turned out for Sunderland’s home game against the Hatters at the Stadium of Light.
Wednesday’s South Yorkshire clash with Barnsley was the highest-attended League One final since Charlton Athletic’s game against Sunderland in 2019,
Darren Moore’s side will now begin preparations for their second tier return, and no doubt Wednesdayites will be back out in their numbers once football returns to Hillsborough next season.
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