Birmingham City transfer target Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill could be on the move to the Championship before the January transfer window slams shut, but not to St. Andrew’s, according to reports.
Football Insider first reported that the Blues had registered interest in the former Swindon Town defender, who now plies his trade in Hungary with Puskás Akadémia, with ex-boss Wayne Rooney identifying the 28-year-old as a player who could bolster his backline just a few days before he was sacked.
However, now, Football Insider have published a report claiming that Birmingham’s relegation rivals Sheffield Wednesday have enquired to the Hungarian club about signing the Arsenal academy product, with his contract set to expire at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
The outlet have also revealed that the Owls are keen to offer the left-back a return to English football but face competition from clubs in the MLS.
Ormonde-Ottewill has been in Eastern Europe for the past two seasons, making 42 appearances in all competitions for Puskás AFC as the side sit in fourth place this term, merely six points behind league leaders Paksi AFC.
The experienced fullback’s last taste of football in England was at the County Ground with Swindon, where he made 56 appearances in total for the Robins before moving to The Netherlands, eventually ending up in Hungary.
Ormonde-Ottewill also had a trial with Lincoln City during Danny Cowley’s time in charge but the player was not picked up by the Imps.
The player is said to have a market value of just under £430,000, despite having entered into the final six months of his contract, so Sheffield Wednesday, or Birmingham City, may have to spend a hefty sum to secure his services this winter.
Writer’s View
The risk with signing Ormonde-Ottewill, whether you’re Birmingham City or Sheffield Wednesday, is that the highest level in England that he has played at is League One during his time with Swindon Town.
While the defender is playing at the best level in Hungary, it’s unclear how well this would translate to England’s second tier, meaning spending more than £400,000 on a player with no experience in the league during the winter market is quite a big risk for two teams who are battling for survival.
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