Sheffield Wednesday close to signing 53-cap international | OneFootball

Sheffield Wednesday are set to make their first signing of the summer transfer window with a return for midfielder Stuart Armstrong

Sheffield Wednesday are poised to complete their first signing of the summer transfer window as they edge closer to a return for Stuart Armstrong, who spent the second-half of the 2024/25 Championship campaign at Hillsborough.

Wednesday's interest in striking a reunion with the 53-cap Scottish international was first called by The Star on Thursday afternoon, where contact between the club and Armstrong was reported.

However, Wednesday's pursuit of Armstrong looks to have accelerated rather quickly and it has now been reported by Alan Nixon of The Sun - via his exclusive Patreon service - that the Owls are "closing in" on a return for the former Celtic and Southampton midfielder.

Wednesday saw two EFL registration embargoes lifted earlier this month but remain limited to free and loan transfers for the next two years amid turmoil and restrictions imposed on the club in what has been a chaotic summer at the hands of under-fire chairman Dejphon Chansiri.

They have, however, been linked to a number of targets in recent days and are now seemingly set to make their long-awaited first signing of this summer's window by bringing Armstrong back to the Steel City.

Wednesday have also been linked with moves for the likes of Manchester United duo Harry Amass and Toby Collyer - the latter of whom is now set to join Championship rivals West Bromwich Albion - along with former Leeds United captain Liam Cooper and Manchester City's Jaden Heskey.

Sheffield Wednesday set to re-sign Stuart Armstrong

As aforementioned, Wednesday's interest in a reunion with Armstrong was first reported earlier this afternoon by The Star. That report claimed how, following contact with the veteran midfielder, a move was not yet at an advanced stage, with Armstrong having "wider interest" after his brief time with the Owls.

Wednesday are, of course, working closely with the independent Club Financial Reporting Unit (CFRU) amid financial turmoil under Chansiri, with the Owls being assisted in designing a business plan to manage squad expenditure. Henrik Pedersen's side are operating under restricted circumstances and any deals are required to be signed off by the CFRU.

Armstrong, however, remains a free agent and The Star also noted that he would have to take a wage cut in order to return to the club.

Nixon's latest update indicates that a deal for Armstrong is much closer than previously reported, though, with the journalist claiming that Wednesday are close to sealing a reunion with the 33-year-old.

According to Nixon, the South Yorkshire outfit are offering deals to free agents - including Armstrong - within the EFL wage restrictions, which are said to be capped at £7,000 per week.

Armstrong is said to be open to a return to Wednesday, having made 11 appearances under ex-boss Danny Rohl in the second-half of the previous campaign.

The Scottish midfielder's last full season at Championship level saw him contribute six goals and seven assists to help Southampton's promotion back to the Premier League via the play-offs, and he left that summer after turning out on more than 200 occasions for the Saints.

There have been small dashes of positivity for Wednesdayites to cling onto in such desperate times, and the impending return of Armstrong represents a massive boost to their ambitions of defying the odds to stay in the Championship this season while being sure to lift the general mood around the club, too.

Injuries limited the Scotsman's impact under Rohl, but there's no denying the quality, experience and pedigree he can offer when fully fit, and his addition to a young, threadbare squad which has been ripped apart in recent times will be much-welcomed.

Wednesday will desperately hope that Armstrong's return can get the ball rolling for a number of signings to make their way to the blue-and-white quarters of Sheffield in the latter stages of this summer's transfer window, with additions urgently needed to give the club a realistic chance of survival this term.

The Owls are next in action at home to Stoke City this Saturday, having recovered from Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Leicester City to advance past League One side Bolton Wanderers on penalties in the first-round of the EFL Cup on Wednesday evening.