James Bord’s first major transfer? Why Sheffield Wednesday should seal West Brom deal | OneFootball

Joe Wildsmith has struggled to make an impact since joining the Baggies and with Sheffield Wednesday needing a goalkeeper, he could be a smart choice.

Sheffield Wednesday are closing in on their inevitable relegation to League One, and this weekend, they could officially take the record for the quickest relegation in Championship history as they prepare for the Steel City derby.

They make the short trip to Bramall Lane to face Sheffield United on Sunday afternoon, but they may not even get the opportunity to save themselves for another week if results do not go their way on Saturday as the battle for survival continues.

While James Bord's takeover is the most important thing at Hillsborough currently, there needs to be busy planning around the squad for the new campaign, and one of Bord's first decisions may just have to be looking at signing a new goalkeeper, with it likely that Pierce Charles will be the subject of significant interest.

Therefore, bringing in a reliable and experienced shot-stopper is crucial, and Sheffield Wednesday should look towards a former ace to help them in their rebuild. He's already done the job once at another club recovering from administration.

Sheffield Wednesday should look to bring Joe Wildsmith back to the club this summer

Joe Wildsmith never truly got to grips during his spell with the Owls at the start of his career. He came through the academy in S6, and made 89 appearances for the club, playing in both the Championship and League One while with the South Yorkshire outfit.

In his final season at Hillsborough, the 30-year-old played just three times in the league, and left the club at the end of his contract to join Derby County as they prepared for life in the third tier.

While he is no longer with the Rams, Wildsmith is in desperate need of a move to a new club himself. Since joining West Bromwich Albion, he has found it incredibly tough to get minutes on the pitch, and he has been working mostly at the training ground as the second and third-choice goalkeeper.

He joined Middlesbrough on loan from the West Midlands outfit in the January transfer window, but he is yet to make his debut for Boro and once again he is primarily being used as a back-up shot-stopper. The Sheffield-born ace needs a fresh start, and a return to Hillsborough to become the number one could be the perfect way to do so, especially in a division that he has thrived in previously.

Joe Wildsmith has history of winning promotion to the Championship from League One

Wildsmith's move from Derby to West Brom is arguably one that he regrets, with his former club moving on and finding a new star between the posts in the form of Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, while he has played back up at both the Baggies and now Boro.

Yet, there was a time when he was a crucial cog in the Rams machine. Signed as a free agent, he joined the East Midlands side when they were in the midst of rebuilding after administration. He thrived under the pressure that the transfer brought and he stepped up.

In his first season at the club, Wildsmith kept 17 clean sheets in 46 games, conceding just 46 goals as Derby just missed out on a place in the top six thanks to a final day defeat to Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. However, the following campaign would prove to be the best of his career.

Under the guidance of Paul Warne, Wildsmith would win the League One Golden Glove, keeping 20 clean sheets in just 40 matches. In 2023/24, he conceded only 31 times as the Rams won promotion back to the Championship. The 30-year-old has a point to prove to many at the Owls, and a return to the third tier would be the best way for him to do it.