Sheffield Wednesday backed to seal "impressive" deal for ex-Brentford star | OneFootball

Sheffield Wednesday have been linked to former-Burnley man Ben Mee. FLW fan pundit, Patrick McKenna gives his opinion on the rumour.

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...

As Sheffield Wednesday look to bolster their squad after the lifting of their transfer embargoes, an interesting name has emerged amongst their targets, Ben Mee.

As reported in the Yorkshire Post, Mee is being linked with a move to Hillsborough.

Mee boasts a stellar career having made a name for himself in the Premier League at Burnley, and most recently, Brentford.

The Manchester City youth prospect amassed over 300 appearances for Burnley over a decade-long period at the club.

Reports of Mee joining the Owls having coincided with links to former-Leeds defender Liam Cooper. These links highlight Wednesday's desperate need for experience, especially in defence.

The Yorkshire-based side have a young squad, so someone with the pedigree and experience of Mee would be a welcome addition to Henrik Pedersen's side.

Football League World's Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit, Patrick McKenna, states that Mee would be an impressive signing for Wednesday.

Sheffield Wednesday urged to pursue Ben Mee as transfer target

When asked his thoughts on the former-Burnley man's arrival, McKenna suggested: "That would be another impressive signing, along the same reasons as [Liam] Cooper would be an impressive signing. There's the experience there."

One thing that Mee would certainly add to the Owls' backline is experience, having made over 500 appearances at club level.

McKenna went on to say: "We've seen what he did at Brentford. He was a key signing for them. In the past few seasons, Brentford have been at a level above Sheffield Wednesday.

"With all that's been going on this summer, I didn't see the likes of Ben Mee being on our radar. I was thinking lower league players, but Ben, he does not fall into the category of a lower league player.

"He would definitely add something to our defence. A defence that needs shored up. It needs intelligence and experience, which Ben Mee would be."

The Owls have been linked to a flurry of younger talents since they have been able to be active in the transfer market, but Mee represents a promising opportunity for Henrik Pedersen's men. If Wednesday were to bring in Harry Amass, then Mee would be a perfect figure to have next to him in the left-hand side of their back three.

The instability of Wednesday's situation could drive Mee away

Despite recent positive steps for Sheffield Wednesday, the looming wage problem at the club remains a clear stumbling block in attracting players to Hillsborough.

McKenna remained cautious around Mee's openness to a move to Yorkshire, he stated: "Being perfectly honest, Sheffield Wednesday are probably the last club, who I'd imagine a player would want to sign for, based on the instability at the club and the consistent non-payment of wages.

"A player signs for a club to do a job and there's a good chance at Sheffield Wednesday, they won't get paid."

There remains huge uncertainty over payments at the Owls, as payments have been delayed for three successive months. Would Mee be open to allowing the payment of wages to be in the balance?

A move to the Owls gives Mee an opportunity to play football

Despite uncertainty around wages, Wednesday are offering Mee a chance to play football. The former-Burnley man has been without a club since leaving Brentford after the expiry of his contract on June 30.

Mee played 67 times for the Bees over a three-year period after leaving Burnley in July 2022. He scored 5 times in his time at the Gtech Community Stadium.

McKenna expressed: "Maybe he does see it as a chance just to play football, because at the end of the day, players just want to get out on the pitch and play 90 minutes."

He also cited rumours surrounding Max Lowe's future at the club and its indication that more positive times could be ahead at Hillsborough. McKenna said: "Max Lowe staying at Wednesday, is that a sign that a takeover is afoot and that will help us attract players? I don't know.

"I'd say fair play to any player, especially ones with the pedigree of Ben Mee, if they want to come to Sheffield Wednesday."

The potential signing of Ben Mee certainly gives reason for Owls fans to be confident in a brighter future ahead for the club, and with the potential committment of Max Lowe to the club, Henrik Pedersen would be building a side capable of competing, if Mee was to sign on the dotted line.