Sheffield Wednesday is prepared to let striker Bailey Cadamarteri leave on loan, with League One side Lincoln City looking likely to secure his signature.
That’s the reports coming from The Star’s Joe Crann, who suggests that the 19-year-old is the subject of interest from the Imps. It’s believed that they are in talks with Cadamateri and the Owls to secure a deal, with manager Michael Skubala particularly keen to get something done quickly.
The 19-year-old had a breakout season at Hillsborough, not least in October, where three goals and an assist led to him being named the Young Player of the Month. In total, he’s scored five goals in 27 outings for the Owls, and it is now felt he needs exposure to regular first-team football.
However, that must be the right loan, and as Crann explains, Lincoln City’s style of play is seen as conducive to Cadamateri’s development. He’s a strong player, once described as a ‘boy in a man’s body,’ and the mixed nature of the Imps’ approach, with some direct balls and some tendency to play through the thirds, will give the Owls prospect an all-around opportunity to develop.
He’s certainly held in high regard in Sheffield, having been selected for the England Under 19 squad earlier this year. He’s also eligible to play for Jamaica, and they called him up at the same time as he got the nod from England Under 19s, leaving him with a choice. He picked England, and spent time at a training camp in May with the Three Lions Under 20s.
Danny Rohl is certainly keen to see Cadamateri get some exposure to first-team games. Earlier in the week, the popular Owls boss said of the youngster, “We know the strengths of Bailey and which kind of football is good for him to get a lot of situations where he can improve. For me the most important point for Bailey is that he gets game time and this means not just 10 minutes or 15 minutes, it means being a starter and delivering again and again. This will be helpful.”
Lincoln have started their season with mixed fortunes. They beat Burton Albion on the opening Saturday, but have since lost two home matches on the bounce, 2-1 against Harrogate in the League Cup, and 2-1 against Barnsley this weekend.
Writer’s View
Cadamateri is a precocious talent, expected to have a long and exciting career. Sheffield Wednesday clearly want to get the best out of their asset, and that is achieved by getting him regular games at a good level. League One will provide that, and Lincoln have a track record of giving exposure to big talents.
Brennan Johnson, Morgan Rogers, Morgan Whittaker and Liam Cullen have all thrived at the LNER Stadium in recent seasons, while their own players, Jovon Makama for example, have also benefitted from the high-quality training facilities and coaches with the Imps.
If this does go ahead, it looks like a great move for both parties and will give Cadamarteri a chance to really show what he can do heading into 2025.
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