New update on Liam Cooper's Sheffield Wednesday future emerges | OneFootball

Liam Cooper joined Sheffield Wednesday as a free agent earlier this season

Liam Cooper signed for Sheffield Wednesday as a free agent on a deal to the end of the season.

The former Leeds United player departed CSKA Sofia after just over one season with the club, and he made his return to English football last November.

The 34-year-old has made 14 appearances for the Owls, who have endured a difficult last 12 months both on and off the pitch.

Henrik Pedersen’s side have already had their relegation to League One confirmed, with the team winning just one of their 35 games played in the Championship so far this campaign.

The Yorkshire outfit are on minus seven points due to being docked 18 points by the EFL for going into administration, as well as financial rule breaches, which all but sealed their fate months ago.

Financial issues have plagued the club this season, but they were still able to add the likes of Cooper to the squad as free agents and his arrival has provided depth and experience to Sheffield Wednesday.

Henrik Pedersen opens up on Liam Cooper’s future

Pedersen has claimed that Cooper wants to extend his future with Sheffield Wednesday beyond his current contract, which expires at the end of the season.

He’s revealed that the defender sees himself with the club long-term, and that he’s enjoying his daily life with the Yorkshire outfit since arriving in November of last year.

“For Liam Cooper, he’d really, really love to stay here, he’d really love to be a part of Sheffield Wednesday,” said Pedersen, via the club’s official YouTube channel.

“He loves his daily life at Sheffield Wednesday.

“He also expressed that he can also see himself as a part of the future of Sheffield Wednesday.”

Cooper has made 14 appearances for Sheffield Wednesday since joining the club, including 10 starts.

He scored his first goal for the Owls in a 3-1 loss to Ipswich Town in December, and he’s been a crucial part of Pedersen’s plans when available.

The 34-year-old has Premier League experience under his belt, having helped Leeds gain promotion under Marcelo Bielsa in 2020, playing 64 times in the top flight for the Whites.

Sheffield Wednesday are bottom of the current Championship table, and are looking to put an end to a 12-game losing streak.

The club remains in administration, with Begbies Traynor seeking a new preferred bidder after James Bord’s consortium pulled out of their agreement to buy the Yorkshire outfit.

It has been reported that a deadline has been set of 6 March for bids, with Mike Ashley and David Storch both linked with a possible takeover.

Next up for Sheffield Wednesday is a trip to face eighth place Derby County at Pride Park on 7 March in a 3pm kick-off.

Liam Cooper staying at Sheffield Wednesday make sense

Cooper provides some much-needed experience at the back for Sheffield Wednesday, who have an otherwise quite young squad.

The defender is a leader, and has been a positive addition to the squad since he arrived, even if results are still quite poor.

Keeping him around would be a good move for the team for life in League One, and it’s a deal that the new owners should look to get done once they’re in place.

Building a squad for next season will be very challenging, so being able to hold onto someone like Cooper will prove a smart piece of business.