Sheffield Wednesday, Liverpool transfer truth emerges as Cardiff City lurk | OneFootball

Sheffield Wednesday have received a significant blow in their pursuit of Liverpool left-back Calum Scanlon alongside Championship clubs

Sheffield Wednesday have been dealt a significant blow in their pursuit of Liverpool's Calum Scanlon, with fresh reports indicating that the courted left-back is likely to join a Championship club on loan this summer as opposed to heading to Hillsborough.

The young defender has emerged as one of the latest names on Wednesday's transfer radar, with the Owls continuing to head underway with business ahead of what Owls fans will hope to prove a busy end to the window.

These summer months have, of course, been action-packed for the Owls following David Storch's takeover in May, and significant squad rebuilding efforts have been deployed in a bid to revamp Henrik Pedersen's side ready for a promotion push out of League One this season.

Scanlon, however, is now unlikely to be adding to Wednesday's litany of incomings courtesy of a new update, leaving Pedersen and co to look elsewhere as a result.

Sheffield Wednesday receive Liverpool, Calum Scanlon transfer blow

The League One promotion hopefuls are expected to lean heavily on the loan market in order to conduct remaining business in the closing weeks of the window, which had led them to explore a potential move for Scanlon in preparation for the upcoming 2026/27 campaign.

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Scanlon spent the second-half of last season on loan with Cardiff City as Brian Barry-Murphy's side clinched promotion back to the Championship at the very first time of asking, having previously turned out for Millwall at second-tier level away from Liverpool.

Andoni Iraola looks set to sanction what will represent a third loan exit for the 21-year-old, although there is little chance that it will involve Wednesday.

That's because a new update from The Star has revealed that Wednesday will struggle to complete a deal and Scanlon instead appears poised to move to the Championship as he fields continued interest from clubs in a higher division with the Owls, who remain eager to bolster the left-back position before next month.

It's said that Wednesday enjoy what is described as a positive working relationship with the ex-England youth international's representatives and held discussions over his potential arrival in the Steel City, although he now looks increasingly likely to stake his claim in the second-tier once more in a fresh blow for Pedersen's side.

Cardiff City hold Liverpool, Calum Scanlon transfer interest amid Sheffield Wednesday blow

Precisely how many Championship clubs hold an interest in acquiring Scanlon's signature ahead of Wednesday remains unclear at this moment in time, although what we do know is that Cardiff are among his suitors after bringing in the sought-after defender for the latter stages of the previous campaign.

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The Bluebirds' admiration was cited in a recent report by the Daily Mail alongside Wednesday, although the Welsh outfit could also face obstacles in their pursuit of a reunion as a number of clubs mull over his signing.

Scanlon arrived in the Welsh capital after returning to action from a serious hamstring injury and made eight appearances, although just two of those were starts as the Reds academy product played second-fiddle behind Joel Bagan.

Should Scanlon return to Cardiff ahead of the new Championship campaign, he would likely fulfil a similar role, though Barry-Murphy has declared that he intends on adding depth in that area of the pitch in the coming weeks.

Sheffield Wednesday's existing left-back options as Liverpool, Calum Scanlon transfer blow revealed

It's no surprise that Wednesday are still ploughing away in their efforts to add to the stable at left-back, of which Max Lowe is the sole senior, established option right now.

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However, from overseeing such a depleted and stretched squad throughout the entirety of last season, Pedersen appreciates that greater depth is required across an unforgiving 46-game slog, especially if the Owls are to stake a strong claim for achieving promotion this time around.

Scanlon would've been a handy addition and one who could have potentially even usurped Lowe in Pedersen's pecking order, even if his two loan spells at Millwall and Cardiff have only yielded limited exposure to senior football.

Nonetheless, prospective signings of that age profile are likely to be targeted as part of the Owls' efforts to further explore the loan market in a pressurised end to the summer window, and it's clear where improvements are required.