Sheffield Wednesday are aiming to bolster their squad to maintain the positive momentum under Danny Rohl, but they have missed out on re-signing Ian Poveda.

The Owls have been active in the transfer market, bringing in players with significant Championship experience, such as Nathaniel Chalobah, Jamal Lowe, and former Sheffield United defender Max Lowe. Rohl has been keen to re-sign some of his loanees from the second half of last season and succeeded in securing Brighton goalkeeper James Beadle, who impressed during his initial stint at Hillsborough.

However, they couldn’t bring back Poveda, who was available on a free transfer after being released by Leeds United. The Colombian winger had been linked with a return to Sheffield Wednesday, as well as potential moves to West Bromwich Albion and Luton Town. But negotiations fell through due to misalignment between Poveda’s camp and the Wednesday hierarchy. Instead, Poveda chose to join Sunderland, now managed by Regis Le Bris.

Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit Callum Maxted expressed his thoughts on missing out on Poveda. “It’s slightly disappointing because of how good he was last season,” Maxted told Football League World. “But then again, you look at his injury record – obviously we rushed him back from injury last season when he wasn’t ready, it’s difficult to say, really. It’s something that happens in football, I guess.”

Maxted highlighted the importance of flair players for Wednesday, drawing comparisons to past talents like Forestieri and Di Canio, and acknowledged the disappointment of losing Poveda to a Championship rival. However, he noted that overpaying for a player with injury concerns wouldn’t have been wise.

Despite missing out on Poveda, Wednesday have targeted other areas for improvement, evidenced by the signings of Lowe and Olaf Kobacki. Reports suggest that the Owls are leading the race against Derby County and Preston North End for Rangers winger Scott Wright. A fee of less than £1 million could secure the former Aberdeen player amid a clear-out at Ibrox.

Additionally, Wednesday have reportedly bid for former Blackpool loanee Karamoko Dembélé, who contributed 21 goals in League One last season. Derby and Bolton Wanderers are also in the mix for his signature.

Reflecting on Poveda, it’s crucial for the former Manchester City loanee to find stability after several loan spells away from Leeds. Poveda has explained that the support network at Sunderland played a key role in his decision to join on a three-year deal, with an option for a fourth year.

Overall, while Sheffield Wednesday’s inability to re-sign Poveda is a setback, it’s one that can be addressed with further strategic signings before the transfer window closes.