Barry Bannan drops new Sheffield Wednesday claim amid return talk | OneFootball

Barry Bannan has reflected on Sheffield Wednesday's play-off win over Barnsley as talk builds that he could return to Hillsborough this summer.

Sheffield Wednesday are heading into their League One season with optimism after Arise Capital Partners completed their takeover of the club.

The Owls have endured a lot over the years, and there were genuine fears about the future of the club at one stage, before the US group stepped in.

With no points deduction in place, the target for Wednesday will be to win promotion, although it’s obviously going to be very difficult when you consider the state of the squad that Henrik Pedersen has been working with.

So, a very busy summer awaits, and one player who has been linked with a return to Hillsborough is Barry Bannan.

Barry Bannan reflects on Sheffield Wednesday play-off win

The midfielder is a legend at Wednesday due to the loyalty he showed to the club before departing for Millwall in January, after over a decade in Yorkshire, which brought many highs and lows.

Yet, his time at The Den hasn’t really gone to plan, so it has been suggested that the former skipper could return this summer.

It remains to be seen whether that happens, but Wednesday clearly still has a place in Bannan’s heart, as he took to his Instagram story to reflect on their play-off final win over Barnsley which was on this day three years ago.

Reacting to an image of a packed out Wednesday end at the national stadium, Bannan praised the fans as he commented ‘no empty seats when the Owls make Wembley, what a day’.

A Josh Windass goal deep into stoppage time in extra-time saw off the Tykes, with that win coming after Sheffield Wednesday had remarkably overcome a four-goal deficit to beat Peterborough over two legs in the semi-final.

Sheffield Wednesday must do all they can to bring Barry Bannan back to the club

Firstly, it’s nice for Owls fans to see Bannan look back on what was a fantastic day for the club, and they will hope they can repeat the achievement of winning promotion from League One again next season.

Of course, when you consider what Bannan has been through with Wednesday over the years, he was always going to keep an eye on everything at the club after leaving.

Now the takeover has been finalised, there is a different mood at Hillsborough, and, crucially, they have room to bring new players in, so it’s no surprise that Bannan is a target.

He did contribute for Millwall during the run-in, but Bannan isn’t in Alex Neil’s best XI, and, at 36, it’s hard to see that changing next season.

So, if Wednesday can make a deal work, it would make total sense for all parties to get Bannan back to the club, as he would surely be open to returning to a club where he is loved, and where he will be a key figure week in, week out.

The Scotsman would still be a quality operator in the third tier, and his experience and know-how will be vital for what will be a new-look Wednesday squad when the new season starts in August.