The clause Sheffield Wednesday must insert in Pierce Charles’ Man City transfer | OneFootball

Pierce Charles is likely to be sent out on loan if he moves to Manchester City, so a return to Sheffield Wednesday seems a no-brainer

One of the more inevitable transfers of the summer window is close to completion, as highly-rated goalkeeper Pierce Charles is set to depart Sheffield Wednesday.

The Northern Ireland international turns 21 later this month and is coming off the back of a breakout year in the Championship with the Owls, where he was tasked with keeping scorelines low as Henrik Pedersen's side were consistently overrun in games.

He only managed 19 league outings due to a couple of untimely injuries to both shoulders at different points in the campaign, but he showcased in the limited time he was afforded that he has the potential to reach the very top.

Therefore, it's no surprise that Manchester City, one of the biggest clubs in the world, are set to secure his services, five years after he left their academy for Sheffield Wednesday. Details on a potential fee are unknown, but the Sheffield Star states that discussions are progressing between the two parties.

But with Gianluigi Donnarumma locking down the number one spot at the Etihad Stadium, it's expected that Charles' return is with an eye to the future, and Ben Jacobs has reported that the 20-year-old is set to head out on loan this summer, should a deal be completed.

Sheffield Wednesday need to insert loan clause in Pierce Charles' sale to Manchester City

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If Charles does end up heading out on loan after signing for Manchester City, Sheffield Wednesday need to ensure that the Northern Irishman's time at Hillsborough can continue for an extra year by inserting a clause that means that the loan destination will be back to them.

While the shot-stopper's career was formed in Manchester, it was developed in the blue half of Sheffield, and if not for Wednesday giving a then-teenage Charles an opportunity in goal, he wouldn't be set to return to the Etihad Stadium this summer.

The 20-year-old was handed his senior debut with the Hillsborough-based club in their FA Cup fourth round exit against Coventry City in the 2023/24 campaign, but it was the following year that he began to stake his claim as a future number one.

Charles would end up replacing England under-21 goalkeeper James Beadle in the latter stages of the 2024/25 term as Danny Rohl's side went through the motions en route to a mid-table finish, setting the foundations for a good year under difficult circumstances last season.

He evidently still has a lot of love and respect for the club, given his choice to remain at Hillsborough throughout the last year, where so many top stars were leaving amidst financial mismanagement from Dejphon Chansiri and then administration.

So, if he's to return to the EFL this summer after rejoining Manchester City, Sheffield Wednesday need to make sure it's with them.

Pierce Charles would be a major coup for Sheffield Wednesday in League One

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Charles is good enough to play in the Championship; he showed that last season. Therefore, if Wednesday make it so that the 20-year-old returned to Hillsborough instead via a loan clause, then it would be a brilliant bit of business for the League One Owls.

Per FotMob, the Northern Irishman averaged 4.26 saves per game in the Championship last season, was responsible for half of Wednesday's four clean sheets despite playing less than half of the league games, and twice made 11 saves in games against Leicester City.

The natural next step would be for Charles to be tested in a second-tier side that isn't staring down the barrel of relegation and see how he'd fare in a promotion-challenging environment, but at Wednesday, he could easily be the best goalkeeper in League One.

Manchester City haven't shied away from allowing their bright, young keepers to play in the third tier, despite their level suggesting otherwise. James Trafford kept 22 clean sheets for Bolton Wanderers in the 2022/23 campaign while on loan from the Citizens.

So, there'd be some hope that the same could happen regarding Charles and a return to Sheffield Wednesday.

The Owls, though, won't need to live in hope, and they can eliminate any other competition for his signature this summer if a move to Manchester City materialises by inserting a clause that ensures that Charles sticks around at Hillsborough for their League One return.