pre-season

True Sheffield Wednesday fee and contract length revealed after ‘no-brainer’ transfer

13/07/2024 Raymond 0

Yan Valery, formerly with Southampton, joined Sheffield Wednesday earlier this month, marking a significant move in the club’s summer transfer activities. Among the eight new additions, Valery is particularly familiar to manager Danny Röhl, with whom he previously worked at Southampton. The transfer, completed early in the month, came at a fee of around £400,000, and Valery signed a three-year contract with Sheffield Wednesday, potentially keeping him at the club until he is 29. This move is part of a broader strategy of securing longer-term contracts for players, both young and experienced. Valery has already donned the Owls’ colors, participating in a pre-season match and gearing up for further training camps and friendlies in Germany and Austria later this month.

Valery expressed his enthusiasm about reuniting with Röhl, stating, “As soon as I knew that Danny wanted me, I just wanted to go back with him because I’ve known him as Southampton assistant coach. He’s the one who was really working on the pitch with the players and with me in my first season. He helped me a lot, and I improved so much with him, so I was really happy to hear from him again and to know that now he was the main manager. It was obviously a no-brainer.”

Imminent Sheffield Wednesday transfer expected amid interest in one-cap England man

12/07/2024 Raymond 0

Sheffield Wednesday’s transfer activities are set to continue as manager Danny Röhl anticipates more additions to the squad, with one potentially arriving in the next couple of days. Despite already signing eight new players this summer, the club is far from finished as they aim to build a team capable of competing at the top end of the Championship table.

During the Owls’ pre-season training camp at St George’s Park, Röhl addressed the ongoing transfer efforts. While he refrained from discussing specific names linked to transfer reports, he hinted that a new signing could be completed in the next couple of days. “We are looking at some options in the market,” Röhl told The Star. “This position is not the easiest one, but I think in the next – not hours – but two days, we will do something. It depends a little bit on the process, the contracts, the medical check. We have always the performance tests, then only after this they can go into training. If they have all this then we can go forward but as always it is about timing. Sometimes it goes quicker, sometimes we need one day more. Then if we have something, we will announce it.”

Free agent finds new home after Sheffield Wednesday departure

10/07/2024 Raymond 0

Sheffield Wednesday signed Adam Alimi-Adetoro two years ago after he impressed them during a trial. Before moving to South Yorkshire, he played for Leixlip United and Athlone Town. Over the past couple of seasons, he has been a key player for Sheffield Wednesday’s Under-21 team. Standing at 6ft 5in, the Irish defender made his first and only competitive appearance for Sheffield Wednesday in an FA Cup match against Fleetwood Town in February 2023. Despite training with the senior team on several occasions and participating in the pre-season trip to Spain last summer under former manager Xisco Munoz, his progression to the starting XI was hindered, leading Sheffield Wednesday to make the difficult decision to release him.

Cyriel Dessers in surprise Rangers development with striker one of seven facing exit door

07/07/2024 Raymond 0

Change is on the horizon for Rangers this summer, whether you call it a revamp, rebuild, or reconstruction. Significant changes have already occurred, with the club parting ways with five seasoned players at the end of their contracts, generating no transfer fees in the process. Belgian manager Philippe Clement faces a challenging task this summer as he considers further cuts to the first-team squad. However, one player has already demonstrated his abilities early in pre-season: Cyriel Dessers.

Initially struggling to impress and facing criticism from fans, Dessers began to win over supporters as the season progressed despite dealing with a series of injuries. Now, he is strongly linked with a move away from Ibrox, with Greek club PAOK and other European and Saudi Arabian teams showing interest. With the potential to recoup the £4.5 million spent on him last summer, Rangers supporters are more hesitant about his departure. Starting pre-season on a high note, Dessers scored in the club’s first friendly of the new campaign, contributing to a 5-2 victory over Hamilton.

Scott Wright sees Rangers transfer exit route emerge as Sheffield Wednesday make their signing pitch

30/06/2024 Raymond 0

Sheffield Wednesday has shown interest in acquiring Rangers winger Scott Wright, who has a year left on his contract. The 26-year-old has caught the eye of Wednesday’s manager, Danny Rohl, who is eager to bring him to the Championship side. Wright, who joined Rangers in 2021 and played in the Europa League Final against Eintracht Frankfurt, has found it difficult to secure a regular spot under manager Philippe Clement. With Clement planning significant changes and already adding five new players to the squad, Wright’s future at Ibrox is uncertain. Sheffield Wednesday hopes to finalize a deal for Wright before the new season starts.

Manager Philippe Clement discussed his vision for the team, emphasizing the importance of a balanced squad with both young talents and experienced players. He highlighted the recent departures and the need to integrate new signings quickly. Clement expressed excitement about the upcoming pre-season and the opportunity to instill the team’s principles in the new players, despite the challenges of managing a larger squad. He stressed the collective motivation of the players and staff to perform well from the outset, ready to tackle nine top games in the first four weeks of the season.

Sheffield Wednesday arrowing in on more signings as Danny Röhl stresses importance

29/06/2024 Raymond 0

Manager Danny Röhl emphasized that Sheffield Wednesday’s recent tally of four new signings is merely the beginning of their ambitious plans. The team reported back to Middlewood Road on Friday for the first time since their impressive survival at Sunderland in early May. Röhl, speaking to the club’s media team, discussed the summer’s progress and stressed the importance of continuing their recruitment efforts. He mentioned a crucial meeting with the chairman in London to discuss the new season and outline the next steps, including friendly games and pre-season camps. Röhl highlighted the challenge of improving the squad following the departure of several players, underscoring the need to keep progressing with their new signings.

Reflecting on past games and performance metrics, Röhl and his team have identified areas for improvement and incorporated these into the pre-season schedule. He reiterated the importance of maintaining a winning mindset and high-performance culture during pre-season, a crucial period for focused development. Röhl expressed a desire for the team to play bold, entertaining football that would deliver positive results and engage fans. He emphasized the need for the team to exceed last season’s efforts to continue the club’s progression, demanding forward movement with intensity and determination.

Stoke City injury blow as midfielder ruled out for four months

27/06/2024 Raymond 0

Ben Pearson, Stoke City’s 29-year-old midfielder, faces a four-month recovery period following surgery for a persistent hamstring injury. Initially hoping to avoid surgery, Pearson ultimately required the procedure, which will likely see him miss the first ten games of the season and all pre-season preparations. Pearson, who joined Stoke permanently last summer from Bournemouth for a fee under £500,000, had a challenging season plagued by injuries, limiting his league appearances to 22.

Steven Schumacher, expressing his frustration, noted that Pearson had been working with the club’s physios all summer, but an undiagnosed hamstring issue necessitated the surgery. Schumacher remains hopeful for Pearson’s recovery and emphasized the importance of focusing on rehabilitation. Despite Pearson’s absence, Stoke City boasts a robust midfield lineup, including Josh Laurent, Wouter Burger, and emerging talent Sol Sidibe. Recent signings like Viktor Johansson and Eric Bocat further strengthen the squad. Schumacher remains pragmatic, urging Pearson to concentrate on his rehab to ensure a strong comeback.

Stoke City starting XI for next season as Steven Schumacher gets early business done

09/06/2024 Raymond 0

Stoke City has bid farewell to five key players from their starting lineup, determined to promptly fill these gaps. Goalkeeper Daniel Iversen, right-back Ki-Jana Hoever, center-half Luke McNally, and attacking midfielder Luke Cundle have all returned to their parent clubs after their loan spells, while striker Tyrese Campbell departs at the end of his contract.

Junior Tchamadeu is set to replace Hoever, with Lynden Gooch providing competition. Seventeen-year-old Sol Sidibe, recently called up to England’s under-18 team, is expected to be a major part of the first team squad during pre-season, potentially sharing minutes with midfielders Jordan Thompson, Wouter Burger, Josh Laurent, Ben Pearson, and Lewis Baker. Viktor Johansson has joined as the new number one goalkeeper from Rotherham United.

In defense, Ben Gibson joins Michael Rose and Ben Wilmot. Left-back Enda Stevens has extended his contract, but given his injury history, additional cover may be sought. The center-forward position remains a top priority, with Ryan Mmaee and Niall Ennis eager to prove themselves, and youngsters Emre Tezgel and Nathan Lowe aiming to catch the coach’s attention.

The transfer window remains open, and Stoke City expects further player movements, both in and out, marking a proactive shift from the previous year’s unsettled pre-season.

Ex-Arsenal, Liverpool, Sunderland and Rangers man an option for Sheffield Wednesday – has trained at club

28/05/2024 Raymond 0

According to The Star, Sheffield Wednesday is considering a former Arsenal and Liverpool youth player as a potential transfer option for the summer. The Owls are preparing for a busy transfer window after successfully securing their spot in the Championship under dramatic circumstances. With manager Danny Röhl having extended his contract, the club is now focusing on bringing in new players before the pre-season starts.

The Star reports that free agent Ovie Ejaria is of interest to Sheffield Wednesday, having trained with the team towards the end of their recent campaign. Although he couldn’t be registered in time, the 26-year-old midfielder could be a signing target for the 2024/25 season.