Sheffield Wednesday plotting move to re-sign 16-goal star | OneFootball

The Owls are looking to bring a cult favourite back to Hillsborough

Sheffield Wednesday are continuing to assess potential additions as preparations for a new era at Hillsborough gather pace under the club's new ownership structure.

Following relegation to League One and a turbulent final year of Dejphon Chansiri's tenure, the Owls face a significant rebuilding job this summer.

New sporting director Simon Wilson and head coach Henrik Pedersen will be tasked with assembling a squad capable of restoring optimism around the club.

While supporters await the first arrivals of the transfer window, attention is already turning towards several familiar names as Wednesday weigh up how best to implement the fresh approach promised by David Storch's Arise Capital group.

Sheffield Wednesday considering move to re-sign Callum Paterson

Sheffield Wednesday are considering a move to bring former fan favourite Callum Paterson back to Hillsborough, according to The Wednesday Word.

Paterson left Wednesday last summer following the expiry of his contract and joined MK Dons, but he enjoyed an outstanding first season in Buckinghamshire, helping Paul Warne's side secure automatic promotion from League Two.

The 31-year-old scored 16 league goals and registered eight assists in 36 league appearances, earning a place in the League Two Team of the Season and emerging as the Dons' leading scorer despite missing part of the campaign through injury.

The Scottish international remains under contract at Stadium MK, meaning any return to South Yorkshire would require Wednesday to negotiate a transfer fee.

Paterson is a player well known to the Hillsborough faithful after making 186 appearances across a five-year spell with the club.

He scored 31 goals, helped Wednesday win promotion through the League One play-offs in 2023 and became one of the squad's most popular figures thanks to his versatility and commitment.

The potential move comes as Wednesday prepare for what is expected to be a busy recruitment drive.

Following the completion of Arise Capital's takeover, transfer restrictions are being lifted and the club are now in a position to pursue permanent signings once remaining administrative processes are completed.

Why a Callum Paterson return could make sense for Sheffield Wednesday

While some supporters may prefer to prioritise younger signings as the Owls begin their rebuild, Paterson's profile aligns closely with several of the qualities the club currently lacks.

The Owls have lost a significant amount of leadership and experience over the last 12 months, while the squad that suffered relegation from the Championship was frequently criticised for lacking resilience during difficult moments.

Paterson has built a career on providing exactly those attributes. Across spells with Heart of Midlothian, Cardiff City, Sheffield Wednesday and MK Dons, he has accumulated four promotions and more than 480 senior appearances.

Just as importantly, he arrives off the back of arguably one of the most productive campaigns of his career. His 16-goal return suggests this would not simply be a nostalgic move designed to reconnect with the club's past.

Remove the name and sentimentality from the signing, and it’s one that makes a lot of sense.

Paterson's final years under Danny Rohl were complicated by a tactical approach that increasingly favoured different profiles of player, and the Scot was open about how difficult he found periods on the fringes of the squad.

The emotional toll of that situation was evident at times, raising a legitimate question over whether he would view a return to Hillsborough as the right move despite his strong connection with the club and its supporters.

However, with Rohl no longer at the helm and a completely different ownership and leadership structure now in place, Wednesday may feel those previous frustrations would carry less weight if they decide to pursue a deal.

A proven winner with a deep understanding of the club could be a useful piece of the puzzle as Storch’s rebuild gathers momentum.