How Sheffield Wednesday beat Middlesbrough and Wolves to Liverpool transfer | OneFootball

The Owls fended off significant competition to loan in Kieran Morrison from the Merseyside club

Sheffield Wednesday head coach Henrik Pedersen has revealed why he believes the League One side were able to fend off significant competition for the loan acquisition of Kieran Morrison from Liverpool.

The Owls have been one of the busiest clubs throughout this summer transfer window as a major rebuilding job has taken place following David Storch's takeover back on May 1st.

As many as 14 new players have been recruited at Hillsborough by the Dane to-date, and there is now just over one week until the window closes for business until January.

Wednesday's recent turbulence has been well-documented, with Pedersen at the helm last season in S6, where the club were even more limited than they have been this summer in terms of the allowance of signings, with the EFL previously imposing several transfer and registration-related restrictions.

An intriguing window of activity has been coupled by a mixed start to the season, as they emerged 2-1 victors away at Leyton Orient in their first League One game since 2023, before losing 1-0 to Bradford City last Thursday.

However, amongst other exciting additions to the squad, it has been revealed why Andoni Iraola's outfit thought the Northern Ireland international's development would be best served by a spell at Hillsborough.

How Sheffield Wednesday landed Kieran Morrison loan ahead of Middlesbrough and Wolves revealed

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In recent times, whilst Wednesday's trajectory as a club has been far more downward, one positive has been the development of homegrown talent, be it through the Owls' academy or exciting prospects who have been loaned in from clubs in the Premier League.

Throughout a dismal start to last season, one positive was the performances of Harry Amass, who was loaned in from Manchester United, with the Premier League club helping the agreement be sanctioned from a financial perspective.

Morrison has kickstarted the first loan move of his senior career with the South Yorkshire outfit after rising through Liverpool's academy, and he has also made two senior appearances for the Anfield club.

But, as well as being linked with Bristol City, it has now emerged that the 19-year-old right-winger was on the radar of both Middlesbrough and Wolves, who are expected to be challenging for promotion to the Premier League this season.

Asked why the League One side were able to beat Championship sides to Morrison's signature, Pedersen told the Star: “I think the style we want to play, not that we can compare, but Liverpool want to play a vertical type of possession, and we want to go in the same direction. So I think the way we play fit his development very well.

"(This) Combined with the history we have with loan players, and then of course to come and play here for plus 30,000. It's a big advantage for a big club to send a young player to a big club like we are in this occasion here to get those experience and learn to play in front of many people," he added.

Kieran Morrison reveals Henrik Pedersen talk ahead of Sheffield Wednesday agreement

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Whilst it is clear that the size of Wednesday as a club has been, and will be pivotal in attracting players to be a part of such a huge rebuild, Morrison, at the time of his signing, revealed what made Pedersen the ideal head coach to work under for the next eight months.

“He wasn't really talking about my footballing ability, he was just talking to me as a person. He wants me to become a better person, so that was eye-opening because I didn't expect it from the gaffer," he said.

“A lot of gaffers don't do that, but the only thing he was saying was, at the end of the loan, what type of person would you want to become.

“He's a great guy and I can't wait to play under him," Morrison added.

Kieran Morrison could show Wolves what they have missed out on for Sheffield Wednesday

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After making a substitute cameo against Bradford, Morrison could make his full debut for Wednesday against Wolves, which would give him the opportunity to show the West Midlands side what they may have missed out on.

That said, there is no guarantee that Morrison would have been afforded the same amount of potential gametime by Cesar Peixoto, despite the fact the Portuguese has handed several highly-rated prospects at Molineux opportunities in the opening weeks of his tenure.