'I'm absolutely delighted' - New Sheffield Wednesday, Barry Bannan update sparks joy | OneFootball

FLW's Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit is "absolutely delighted" with the news that formal talks have begun over a Barry Bannan return

The wheels are in motion surrounding an extraordinary return to Sheffield Wednesday for Barry Bannan, six months after his emotional exit to Millwall.

The 36-year-old's decade-long stint at Hillsborough came to an end in January, as he signed for Millwall amidst uncertainty surrounding the Owls' future, with the club in administration.

However, since then, the landscape of Sheffield Wednesday has changed. Upon Bannan's departure, the club were in exclusive talks with former professional poker player James Bord, but a month following the move to Millwall, he pulled out of the takeover.

Now, the Arise consortium, led by David Storch, is in post at Hillsborough, and they've ensured stability that perhaps Bord wasn't offering. Indeed, it was speculated last month that if the current owners were in situ, Bannan likely wouldn't have left.

So, with the transfer window opening in a matter of days, and the 36-year-old evidently not seen as an important first-team player at Millwall, starting just six of his 16 appearances for the Lions, the door is open for the Wednesday legend to make an emotional return, and formal talks are taking place ahead of such a move.

Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit "absolutely delighted" with Barry Bannan update

Action Images

There arguably isn't a more respected, beloved figure in recent history at Sheffield Wednesday than Bannan, with the midfielder sticking by the Owls during numerous times of turmoil, relegation and financial worries, despite his ability clearly suggesting he could play higher up.

The 36-year-old even continued to train with the club last summer, despite not being under contract, and remained at Hillsborough amid the uncertainty surrounding the final few months of the Dejphon Chansiri reign.

FLW's Owls fan pundit, Patrick McKenna, echoes the thoughts of 99% of the Wednesday fanbase when he says that he is "absolutely delighted" with the news surrounding a move back to Hillsborough for their Scottish legend.

"It's been discussed for a while that Bannan may be on his way back to Hillsborough, and now, formal talks with Millwall strongly indicate that some sort of deal will be struck. Do we expect him to be a Sheffield Wednesday player again in the near future?" he said.

"As a massive Barry Bannan fan, who was gutted to see him go, especially without a proper goodbye, I'm absolutely delighted with this update, and I'll be grateful to the club if he were to come back, even to play for one more season."

The 36-year-old may be in the twilight years of his career, but his skill set would still place him among the better engine room operators in League One, where Sheffield Wednesday return this summer.

Last season, Ollie Norwood stood out as the conductor of Stockport County, pulling the strings in the midfield, aged 35. There's no doubt that Bannan can assume that role in the new-look Wednesday side next year.

"Next season, we're in League One, and Bannan is a very good footballer still at that level. He'll bring experience, which will be crucial ahead of a huge squad rebuild," McKenna continued.

"He knows Sheffield Wednesday very well and is popular among the playing squad and the staff, so it's a huge positive that he is coming back, and I can't really understand fans who would be negative about the prospect.

"At the end of the day, Bannan coming back to Wednesday is a positive, and with it looking like an inevitability now, I have to say that I'm particularly happy with the update."

Barry Bannan's return would invoke more positivity surrounding the David Storch ownership

Action Images

So far, David Storch and his Arise consortium are hitting all the right notes following their takeover at Hillsborough.

From eradicating any worries about a points deduction or wage caps being implemented upon them next season, to hiring board members who have brilliant pedigrees behind them in roles that weren't even utilised under Dejphon Chansiri, there's a lot to be excited about at Hillsborough next season.

Bringing back arguably the most popular man on the field in a generation, in Bannan, would only serve to stoke that excitement even more, not only from a sentimental stance, but also from the fact that the 36-year-old could kickstart a rebuild this summer that sees a promotion-contending squad built.