Sheffield Wednesday head coach Henrik Pedersen has addressed the uncertain future of club captain Barry Bannan as Championship side Millwall circle.
Bannan has been a fixture at Hillsborough for nearly 11 years after arriving on a free transfer from Crystal Palace in 2015, but Wednesday’s difficult financial and sporting situation has led to several departures this window.
Manchester United loanee Harry Amass has opted to join Norwich City, while Yisa Alao has moved on to Chelsea, and Bannan could now follow them out of the club.
The midfielder is among the longest-serving players in the Championship, with only six footballers having spent more time at their current clubs than Bannan has with Wednesday.
Those include Dael Fry, Jay Fulton, Jack Stephens, Sam Long and Craig Forsyth, along with his Owls teammate Liam Palmer, who shared an emotional embrace with Bannan after the Bristol City match.
Interest in the 36-year-old has come from Scotland, with Motherwell and Hibernian keen, but Championship clubs Millwall, Stoke City and Preston North End have also been monitoring the situation.
Bannan appeared visibly emotional during the recent Birmingham City game as the prospect of an exit grew closer, despite previously making clear his wish to remain at Wednesday for the rest of his career. He even committed to a new deal in the summer on heavily reduced wages, believed to be around £7,000 per week.
Millwall, however, are reportedly prepared to offer Bannan an 18-month contract on significantly improved terms, a proposal that could prove hard to turn down at this stage of his career.
While the Lions were initially said not to have made an official move, BBC Radio Sheffield’s Rob Staton has since reported that a formal approach was lodged on Saturday evening, with the transfer expected to be completed in the coming days.
Speaking to Radio 5 Live, Pedersen admitted how painful the situation has been for everyone involved, but especially for Bannan himself. He highlighted the midfielder’s deep connection to the club and acknowledged that the uncertainty surrounding Wednesday’s future has made things particularly difficult for him.
Adding to the frustration for supporters, Sheffield Wednesday are not expected to receive a transfer fee, with an agreement believed to be in place to allow Bannan to leave on a free transfer.
Should he depart, it would mark a disappointing end to a hugely successful Hillsborough career, and his absence would be keenly felt both on the pitch and in the dressing room, especially within a squad that is largely made up of younger players.
Leave a Reply