Barry Bannan, Sheffield Wednesday transfer claim dropped - "His loyalty knows no bounds" | OneFootball

FLW's Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit has given his verdict on Barry Bannan's future

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Barry Bannan’s future at Sheffield Wednesday is up in the air this summer, with his contract coming to a conclusion once more unless a renewal is offered.

The 36-year-old has been a key figure for the Owls since joining the club in 2015, making over 400 appearances in that time in all competitions.

Despite his age, the Scotsman has been an ever-present in the Championship so far this season for Wednesday, in what has been a very turbulent period for the South Yorkshire outfit.

Henrik Pedersen’s side have been deducted 18 points over the course of the season, leaving them all but guaranteed to suffer relegation to League One, but Bannan has still tried to lead his side on the pitch to the best results they can possibly get, and he's committed to the cause with three goals and three assists from the middle of the park.

Bannan signed a one-year deal to remain at Hillsborough last summer despite significant financial issues behind the scenes, snubbing offers three times more than the £7,000 a week deal he signed at Hillsborough from both Millwall and Middlesbrough, but that contract will now expire at the end of this campaign.

Claim issued on Barry Bannan's Sheffield Wednesday future

When asked about Bannan’s future, FLW’s Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit Patrick McKenna claimed that the Scot will not be going anywhere in the summer, and that he will remain at Hillsborough.

He believes that staying last summer is a sign that he will never leave the Championship side, suggesting that he may even commit to coaching with the club after he finally calls it a day on his playing career.

“I have no doubt that he will be playing for us,” McKenna told Football League World.

“His loyalty knows no bounds, and he has stayed with us through thick and thin.

“He said this summer he considered leaving, but in the end he stayed with us.

“Even the fact that his daughter really wanted him to stay really played on the heartstrings.

“So, next season it is going to be another huge battle in League One, but Bannan is a leader, he will be up for the fight and I just know he will want to lead Wednesday to another possible promotion.

“He is clearly very devoted to the club, and I just don’t think, at this stage of his career, that he will have the desire to go elsewhere.

“After he finally hangs up his boots, whenever that will be, I think that he will join the coaching staff at the club, and he will still be with us for a long time.”

Barry Bannan’s future is with Sheffield Wednesday - it would be a real shock if he ever left now

Even at the age of 36, Bannan is showing every week that he is still more than capable of playing at Championship level, and at times he's ran the show for Sheffield Wednesday in the middle of the park.

However, he’s committed so much to the Owls, and it would be a sad way for his time at the club to end if he departed in the summer after the team has been relegated back to League One.

It would be surprising if he left now after he decided to stay in the summer when a lot of other top stars had their contracts terminated, and the last time the club dropped into the third tier in 2021, he remained at Hillsborough when he probably could've tried to force a move..

If he can keep performing like he is this season, then Bannan could prove quite important to Sheffield Wednesday being able to fight for promotion under new owners next season in League One, and a few years down the line, we could also see the Scotsman in the dugout for the club he's grown to love - it feels like the natural next step when he's ready.