Sheffield Wednesday will likely need to find a replacement for Shea Charles during the 2025 summer transfer window.
The Owls have improved a great deal in the 2024/25 season after flirting with relegation last year.
Sheffield Wednesday did lose to Sheffield United last time out and in turn, their play-offs hopes have been dealt a big blow.
But it’s still been a very solid season for the Yorkshire outfit, who are now preparing for what could be a summer in which they lose some big names.
Danny Rohl has a release clause of around £5m and is wanted by Southampton amid speculation over his future at Hillsborough.
Meanwhile, EFL Analysis recently learned Sheffield Wednesday’s chances of keeping Shea Charles beyond 2024/25 are low.
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Sheffield Wednesday should loan Manchester City gem to replace Shea Charles
Graeme Bailey told us that ‘it is very hard to imagine him staying at Sheffield Wednesday beyond this season, even if they would welcome his return’.
The Southampton loanee has been a crucial part of the Owls’ upturn in form this season and losing him would be a major blow.
As a result, it is crucial they secure an adequate replacement in the 2025 summer transfer window if they want to build on their 2024/25 campaign.
Given Charles’ quality, Wednesday are unlikely to be able to afford a permanent replacement, meaning another loan does make sense.
On this front, Sheffield Wednesday should look to secure a loan move for Manchester City sensation, Nico O’Reilly.
Reports earlier this year, as per football.london, claimed Man City rejected an approach from Chelsea for the youngster.
So, as they seem to have a long-term plan for O’Reilly, a loan move to gain more first-team experience in the summer does make sense, and Wednesday should look to snap him up.
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
What Pep Guardiola has said about Nico O’Reilly
Born in Manchester, the 20-year-old has spent his entire career to date on the Sky Blues’ books.
He has shone at U18 level and has began to see some minutes at senior level in the current season.
Team Goals Appearances Assists
Man City U18 21 46 17
Man City U21 6 26 1
Manchester City senior team 3 9 0
O’Reilly is a versatile midfielder who can play as a 10, an eight, sitting slightly deeper and has even lined out in defence on a few occasions.
The Englishman started at left-back and scored twice when Man City beat Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup on March 1, earning high praise from Pep Guardiola post-match.
Pep told the club’s media: “He’s not a typical player from the Academy because they are all small and have big talent but he has a big, big presence.
“Sometimes we take a good decision otherwise he would not have scored two goals today. Normally he’s an attacking midfielder and runs to the box really well. He adapted really well to the full-back role. Nico’s another threat from set-pieces because we are not a tall team.
“He helps us and played really good with the ball, without the ball. Two fantastic goals.”
The player’s experience at senior level is still limited but given Sheffield Wednesday will likely find it hard to replace Charles with a permanent signing, they should be looking to take a slight risk on another exciting Premier League youngster.