Sheffield Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen has been told that the club are looking to raise the funds that would allow them to ease their recruitment restrictions – but that they want to keep hold of prized asset Pierce Charles.
The Owls have struggled to pay members of their workforce on time in four of the last five months, and they have been subjected to transfer restrictions due to late HMRC payments and a failure to satisfy fees owed to other clubs from earlier transfer dealings. EFL registration embargoes have been eased for the time being, but the club is still subject to a ‘fee limitation’ that will remain in effect until the summer of 2027.
That sanction restricts business to free transfers and no-fee loans, though it is understood that incoming business is prohibited until Wednesday, when clubs can provide proof to the EFL’s independent Club Financial Reporting Unit that their cashflow issues will be alleviated and that they will be able to meet future financial obligations.
Henrik Pedersen, the new manager, is working with a bare-bones group and has openly discussed the need to add fresh players. The Danish coach spoke last week to affirm that the club is doing everything it can to better its immediate financial situation and open up the potential of new business. The club’s recruitment department worked hard to secure possible deals.
Player sales are one way for the club to generate revenue. Wednesday have already sold prize assets Anthony Musaba and Djeidi Gassama to cover prior financial difficulties, with the club having to rely on a Premier League solidarity payment last month. The Star reports that Ligue 1 club Strasbourg has kept their interest in goalkeeping star Pierce Charles, after having a proposal of around £2 million rejected last week.
Pedersen has stated that, given the circumstances, any choice to sell Charles will be taken by chairman Dejphon Chansiri, but he has made it clear that retaining players from his present squad is preferable. It is reported that one of the probable possibilities for Charles’ selling could be a loan back to Wednesday.
“At the moment, we’re doing everything we can to find a way to get players in,” Pedersen told The Star. “I’m hoping we don’t sell anyone; we need the guys we have today, and keeping them is critical, especially given the burden of signing new players. So I sincerely hope we can keep the players.
When asked what conversations he has had with Chansiri about Charles’ future, Pedersen responded, “We have had dialogue that we want to keep him and get new players in.”
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