Sheffield Wednesday are reportedly competing with Championship rivals West Brom for the signature of a free-agent centre-back.
Sheffield Wednesday are on the verge of making their ninth summer signing, with former England international midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah set to join on a free transfer. This addition further strengthens Danny Rohl’s squad, which is shaping up well ahead of the 2024/25 Championship season starting in August.
The club is also pursuing several other targets, including a deal to re-sign Ike Ugbo following his successful loan spell in the latter half of the 2023/24 season. Additionally, there are rumors linking Sheffield Wednesday with a potential return of another former loan player, Ian Poveda.
A new target has emerged on Sheffield Wednesday’s radar. Reports indicate that they are vying with West Brom for the signing of free-agent centre-back Mickael Nade. According to French national outlet L’Equipe, both Sheffield Wednesday and West Brom are interested in the 25-year-old Nade, who was recently released by St Etienne, where he spent his entire career.
Nade debuted for St Etienne’s first team in 2017 and accumulated 79 appearances, including 26 in Ligue 2 during their promotion-winning season. While St Etienne hopes to re-sign Nade for the 2024/25 campaign, both Sheffield Wednesday and West Brom are keen on the French defender.
Adding a centre-back is crucial for Rohl, who currently has Michael Ihiekwe, Bambo Diaby, and Dominic Iorfa in that position, with Di’Shon Bernard technically out of contract. The pursuit of Nade might indicate potential disappointment regarding Bernard’s uncertain future.
Re-signing Bernard would be a significant boost for Sheffield Wednesday, but with interest from other Championship clubs and teams across Europe, bringing him back may be challenging. However, if Sheffield Wednesday continues to have a strong transfer window, Bernard might be persuaded to return to Hillsborough.
