Manager Issues Transfer Update On Sheffield Wednesday Star

Blackpool head coach Neil Critchley has admitted that he would like to keep Sheffield Wednesday star George Byers at the club on a permanent basis, following a relatively successful loan spell thus far.

The midfielder has been on the books at Hillsborough for the past three seasons, having joined from Swansea City at the start of the 2021/22 campaign. However, in January, Owls boss Danny Rohl decided to let Byers leave on a six-month loan spell to Bloomfield Road.

Sheffield Wednesday Survival Unlikely Says Supercomputer

The 27-year-old has had a great impact during his brief spell with the Seasiders, making 15 appearances in all competitions under Critchley, picking up one assist in a 4-1 thrashing of Bolton Wanderers back in March.

Blackpool are currently sitting one point below the final play-off place which is occupied by Lincoln City. Should the Imps and Oxford United drop points on the final day and Critchley’s side beat Reading at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, Blackpool will earn a spot in the play-offs.

Byers already has experience gaining promotion to the Championship, having been part of the Sheffield Wednesday side that battled against all the odds to blow away Peterborough United in the semi-final and Barnsley in the final at Wembley, although he did not feature at all during the play-offs.

https://twitter.com/G_byers/status/1663239122691948551

Before heading out to Bloomfield Road three months ago, Byers had made 22 Championship appearances this term but Critchley is hoping to complete a permanent deal for the midfielder in the summer, although the manager has admitted that it’s out of Blackpool’s hands [quotes via the Blackpool Gazzette]:

“George has been excellent, he’s got real maturity and real composure.

“That’s the discussions we’ve been having, we’re always planning ahead,” he stated when asked about potentially signing the loan trio of Byers, Jordan Rhodes and Hayden Coulson over the coming months.

“With loan players, their parent clubs have something to say, and when they play well, you get interest from elsewhere. They’re not our players so it’s out of our hands.

“They’ve all contributed and shown their value to the club. They’ve also shown what good people they are and how much they’ve enjoyed playing here, so it’s definitely something we will look at when the season ends.”

Writer’s View

A deal for Byers could ultimately depend on whether or not Sheffield Wednesday stay in the Championship or be relegated back down to League One at the first time of asking. As it stands, the South Yorkshire club are outside of the bottom three by a point.

Byers could be a really good asset under Rohl next season if the Owls are back in England’s third tier, but should they remain in the Championship, perhaps selling him would be wise as he likely won’t play much.

RELATED ARTICLES

BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT

Leave a Reply