Brooke Norton-Cuffy’s loan signing with Sheffield Wednesday and Arsenal is being discussed this summer.
The 19-year-old is “one of the players to have been discussed” by the Owls with a view to a future loan deal, according to The Star.
Despite the fact that “no formal approach has yet been launched” for the young defender, Wednesday is getting ready to return to life in the Championship following a two-year absence.
The South Yorkshire team, which had 96 points in the regular league season but just missed out on automatic promotion to Ipswich Town and Plymouth Argyle, was promoted in dramatic circumstances through the play-offs.
Given the difference in quality between League One and the Championship, multiple incomings will be required to guarantee Wednesday’s survival.
Norton-Cuffy might be the first of those this summer in the first and second tiers.
Brooke Norton-Cuffy: who is he?
He had previously been on loan in the EFL, joining Rotherham United in August and making 21 appearances while playing for the Millers before being called up by Arsenal in January and signing with high-flying Coventry City.
Having made 24 appearances in all competitions to assist the Sky Blues in reaching the Championship play-off final, he has some experience and credentials at the second tier level.
Offering his reaction to the news, former England international midfielder Carlton Palmer feels as though Norton-Cuffy could be a fantastic addition to Darren Moore’s squad.
Speaking exclusively to Football League World, he said: “With Darren Moore alternating from a flat back four to three centre-backs at times during the season, Arsenal’s Brooke Norton-Cuffy would be a shrewd acquisition.
“He can operate as right-full-back or right wing-back and has genuine pace.
“The 19-year-old Arsenal player has a bright future and will flourish under the tutelage of Darren Moore.
“He was exceptional at Coventry last season, and he and they only lost out to Luton in the play-off final.”
Will Norton-Cuffy be a good signing for Sheffield Wednesday?
The Arsenal youngster has the direct running and dynamism needed for a right wing-back role in Darren Moore’s system and would be a decent addition.
His energy levels and ball-carrying ability are notable strong areas of his skill-set, and he has good experience at second tier level for his age, too.
Although work needs to be done on the defensive side of Norton-Cuffy’s all-round game, the 19-year-old is improving all the time, and another Championship loan with regular senior game time is crucial for himself and his development at this stage of his career.
Arsenal will also want him to be in an environment where he is playing often in first-team football, making this a smart move for all parties involved.
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A Sheffield Wednesday player describes his future plans.
Brennan is happy to remain at Hillsborough – and knows pre-season could be crucial for him.centerback for Sheffield Wednesday Ciaran Brennan expressed to Yorkshire Live his desire to continue working at Hillsborough after this summer.
The 23-year-old played for Darren Moore during the 2021–2022 season but was briefly considered surplus to requirements at Hillsborough. He spent the previous season on loan at Swindon Town.
To be fair, during the previous summer window, Ben Heneghan, Michael Ihiekwe, Akin Famewo, and Mark McGuinness were all signed to replace departing players like Chey Dunkley and Sam Hutchinson.
This made it seem as though Brennan’s time would be short if he remained in South Yorkshire.
He was not a part of the thrilling 2022–23 season at Wednesday, but he was able to secure League Two first-team football with the Robins, although missing some of the season due to injury issues.
What is Ciaran Brennan’s stance on his Sheffield Wednesday future?
Aden Flint may have left the club on the expiration of his deal loan, but you would certainly bet your house on the Owls bringing in another centre-back during the summer window if they are sticking with a back three.
Brennan could struggle for game time once again next term because of the existing options they have and the fact they may strengthen this area further.
But the 23-year-old is keen to stay put, telling Yorkshire Live: “I’m more than happy to take on the competition here because this is where I want to be more than anywhere.
“Basically it all depends how I do pre-season. I need to come back raring to go, and go from there really.”
Is Ciaran Brennan taking the right stance?
After being deemed surplus to requirements in League One, it would be difficult to see him playing a big part in the Championship and this is why another loan deal could be good for him.
With the player only having one year left on his contract, he needs to impress next season and he won’t have the chance to be able to do so if he isn’t playing regularly.
If he can enjoy a good loan spell in the third tier next season and stand out, that could potentially earn him an extension at Hillsborough.
And if he doesn’t earn an extension, even if he does well out on loan, he will have done enough to put himself in the shop window for another club to pick him up.
A loan exit would be his best bet this summer unless he’s set to be a key part of Moore’s plans, so he probably isn’t taking the right stance at this point, although you can’t blame him for wanting to remain at Hillsborough.
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