Uncertainty surrounds the future of a key summer transfer target for Sheffield Wednesday.
The Owls are taking a brief pause from transfer activities as they prepare for the upcoming 2024/25 Championship season. Currently, the first-team squad is in Germany, getting ready for a pre-season friendly against Werder Bremen on Friday. Their most recent match saw them facing Red Bull Salzburg in Austria, where they suffered a 4-0 defeat in their second pre-season friendly.
Following the Bremen game, Sheffield Wednesday will play Leganes in Liam Palmer’s testimonial match before starting the new season with a home game against Plymouth Argyle. Many anticipate that the Owls will add to their nine summer signings before the season begins.
The team is striving to re-sign Ike Ugbo from Troyes on a permanent basis, though negotiations have hit some obstacles. Additionally, Sheffield Wednesday has submitted a bid for former Celtic prospect Karamoko Dembele, who is currently with Ligue 1 side Brest, where his future is uncertain.
Dembele, 21, has been informed he can leave Brest this summer despite his impressive loan spell with Blackpool in the 2023/24 season and being under contract until 2026. Reports indicate that Sheffield Wednesday is one of the clubs that have made a bid for Dembele. Derby County is also interested, and Portsmouth was rumored to have made a bid, although Pompey boss John Mousinho has downplayed that speculation.
Recently, Dembele posted a picture on Instagram of himself participating in pre-season preparations with Brest, captioned ‘Preparations continue.’ This suggests that Brest may want to reassess Dembele, despite previous reports of his impending departure. His strong performance at Blackpool last season positions him as a potential backup player for Brest, who will be competing in the Champions League next season—a prospect that could appeal to Dembele.
A move to Sheffield Wednesday for Dembele might materialize later in the summer transfer window, if at all, as his future remains undecided amidst interest from multiple clubs.