Sheffield Wednesday played it smart with Man City transfer - one regret still lingers | OneFootball

Man City regularly sell their best young players and Sheffield Wednesday once took advantage of it, but with one lingering regret...

For clubs looking to recruit at Championship level, it can often come down to identifying opportunity before it becomes obvious. For a time, Sheffield Wednesday looked to have identified a player with potential in a deal involving Manchester City.

It's a well-trodden path now for many, but plucking highly-rated talent from elite academies is a pathway EFL clubs continue to explore and take advantage of, but it is not without risk. Players can arrive with promise yet struggle to adapt to the physical and tactical demands of senior football.

Others, however, show glimpses almost immediately, hinting at a ceiling far beyond the level they are currently operating at. Wednesday’s decision to dip into City’s development ranks fell into the latter category. This was not a gamble in the traditional sense, but a calculated move to secure a player whose level was a class above.

He had the technical and physical profile at a young age which suggested he would not be around Hillsborough for long if everything clicked. There were early signs that the Owls had unearthed something particularly valuable.

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru was an interesting signing for Sheffield Wednesday from Man City

The player in question is Fisayo Dele-Bashiru. He showed glimpses of the driving runs from midfield, the ability to carry the ball through pressure, and somewhat of a knack for impacting games in the final third. It all pointed towards a player who could influence matches rather than simply participate in them as a young player not quite ready yet.

Signed from Manchester City’s U-21 setup, Dele-Bashiru quickly demonstrated why he had been so highly thought of within one of the country’s most talent-rich environments. He brought energy and verticality to Wednesday’s midfield, while also offering a different dimension that is often hard to find at Championship level.

In that sense, the initial deal was undeniably smart. Wednesday acquired a player with clear upside for minimal cost, developed him within a competitive first-team setting, and benefited from his performances. However, that was only for a period at Hillsborough and where the regret now lingers is in how that situation was ultimately managed.

Allowing a player of that profile to run down his contract and depart for nothing to Hatayspor in Turkey represents a missed opportunity, particularly in the modern Championship landscape where player trading models are increasingly important. Even if his consistency was not yet apparent, the raw attributes were there for him to be a key part of the side in years to come.

Even if Wednesday had felt he was not likely to be central to their long-term plans, his age, athleticism, and evident potential should have ensured a market existed. Instead, the Owls saw him leave without recouping a fee, thus forfeiting the chance to reinvest in the squad.

Given the way the club has operated for some time now under Dejphon Chansiri, it is clear to see why. It is not at all surprising, but what Dele-Bashiru has gone on to become will come as even more of a frustration now.

The mistake Sheffield Wednesday have made with Fisayo Dele-Bashiru

Yes, it may feel like hindsight to suggest it, but what compounds that frustration for Sheffield Wednesday is the trajectory his career has taken since. After his move to Turkey, Dele-Bashiru has continued to develop, earning a switch to Lazio in Serie A.

Now 25 and entering what should be the prime years of his career, he is operating at a level that reflects the promise he once showed in South Yorkshire. Even if not a regular starter, they are one of the best teams in a top flight league. That underlines Wednesday's mistake in letting him go.

From Wednesday’s perspective, that creates a ‘what if’ scenario and one that is difficult to ignore. They either could have retained him and built around his qualities as he matured into an asset, or, at the very least, positioned themselves to command a respectable transfer fee before his contract situation became an issue.

Instead, they find themselves looking back on a deal that was initially astute but flawed in terms of its conclusion. Maximising value, both on the pitch and financially, is what ultimately defines whether a transfer is a true success. Wednesday ended up with neither.