Sheffield Wednesday must seize Leicester City transfer situation after Aston Villa blow | OneFootball

Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester City are eyeing promotion from League One and the Owls could now make the most of a transfer blow from Aston Villa.

Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester City have ambitions for an immediate return to the Championship, with the opening months of the transfer window reflecting that for the Owls.

Following their takeover, Sheffield Wednesday have moved aggressively in the market, assembling a squad that many believe capable of challenging towards the top end of League One after the disappointment of relegation.

However, they are not alone. Leicester City have made it known that promotion at the first attempt is the objective after an astonishing fall into the third tier. The Foxes still possess resources that most clubs in the division can only envy, meaning they are expected to be among Wednesday's biggest rivals over the course of the 2026/27 campaign.

Sheffield Wednesday miss out on Tommi O'Reilly

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Naturally, that complicates transfer dealings between the two clubs. It is rarely straightforward for direct promotion contenders to strengthen one another, particularly when there is every chance they could be competing for the same automatic promotion places next May.

Even so, footballing realities can sometimes outweigh competitive concerns. If one player is unlikely to receive the minutes he needs, a move elsewhere can benefit everyone involved.

Sheffield Wednesday were recently dealt a setback after missing out on Tommi O'Reilly, despite holding a strong interest in the talented Aston Villa youngster. Football League World exclusively revealed that the attacking midfielder was a target.

However, he will not be making the move to Hillsborough, with Notts County set to beat Wednesday to the Villa midfielder, leaving the Owls searching for another creative option capable of filling a similar role.

Fortunately for Wednesday, there may be an excellent alternative much closer to home. In fact, Leicester may have the answer, as Will Alves could be exactly the profile the Owls should now pursue.

Like O'Reilly, Alves is a technically gifted attacking midfielder who thrives between the lines, carries the ball confidently, and has the creativity to unlock the opposition. He remains one of Leicester's brightest young talents, but his pathway into the first team could become increasingly congested.

He can operate as a winger or attacking midfielder, with Wednesday evidently in search of that sort of profile as they look to make the finishing touches to Henrik Pedersen's first-team squad.

Leicester City's Will Alves could provide the answer for Sheffield Wednesday

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With Tommy Watson sealing a loan move from Brighton in the last few days, competition for attacking places is only likely to intensify at the King Power. That may leave Alves facing another season waiting for opportunities rather than playing regular senior football, something that is far from ideal for a player at this stage of his development.

A loan to Sheffield Wednesday could therefore make sense, even if Leicester may hesitate to strengthen one of their principal promotion rivals. The Foxes would understandably be reluctant to hand an obvious rival a player capable of making a significant impact in League One, but equally, there is little value in allowing one of their top prospects to stagnate on the fringes.

When fit, Alves has already demonstrated the quality to influence games at senior level. The 21-year-old's loan at Huddersfield Town saw him bag two goals in 15 appearances. He also showcased his ability to glide past opponents and create chances, while League One could yet again provide the ideal platform to showcase his talent consistently.

Sheffield Wednesday's window only needs a few finishing touches

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For Sheffield Wednesday, this feels like a situation worth exploring. O'Reilly may no longer be an option, but Alves offers many of the same qualities and arguably has an even higher ceiling.

If there is any willingness from Leicester to negotiate, the Owls should test the waters without hesitation. Missing out on one highly-rated youngster does not have to define their summer if another equally gifted talent is available.

The 12 signings thus far have been impressive, but the final two or three pieces of the puzzle could be the difference between missing out on the League One play-offs or sneaking in, or potentially making the automatic promotion places and having to settle for the play-offs.