Sheffield Wednesday shouldn’t ignore Bolton Wanderers alarm bells | OneFootball

Sheffield Wednesday cannot ignore alarm bells from Bolton Wanderers as they close in on another transfer deal...

Sheffield Wednesday and Bolton Wanderers effectively swapped places at the end of the 2025/26 season, but they could share a similarity next term.

While the Trotters finally secured the promotion to the Championship that had eluded them in previous campaigns, Sheffield Wednesday suffered the disappointment of relegation to League One after a miserable season.

Both clubs are now preparing for fresh challenges in new divisions, but there is an intriguing crossover between them this summer. It has emerged Wednesday are eyeing a recent Bolton Wanderers player in the transfer market.

Mason Burstow is closing in on a move to Sheffield Wednesday from Hull City

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Sheffield Wednesday are closing in on a loan move for Hull City striker Mason Burstow following his spell with Bolton last term, but while extra reinforcements are undoubtedly required at Hillsborough, his mixed campaign at the Toughsheet Community Stadium suggests there are reasons to approach the deal with a degree of caution.

The striker turns 23 this week but his loan at Bolton under Steven Schumacher showed exactly why he continues to divide opinion. On paper, a return of 12 goals in 53 appearances across all competitions appears respectable enough, particularly for a player still developing and hoping to hit new heights with Sheffield Wednesday.

However, those numbers do not tell the full story. Bolton were among League One's strongest attacking sides, dominating possession and creating chances regularly throughout the campaign, so there was a feeling Burstow should perhaps have returned an even greater tally.

His season was also characterised by inconsistency. Rather than scoring steadily throughout the year, Burstow tended to produce goals in clusters during purple patches before enduring lengthy barren spells. Confidence has always appeared to play a significant role in his game.

When he finds the net, he often follows it with another in quick succession, but when chances begin to go begging, his performances can quickly become more subdued. That streaky nature made him a frustrating player for Bolton supporters, who knew there was talent there but rarely saw it sustained over long periods.

His versatility across a few positions remains a positive, and Schumacher persisted with him because he contributed to the team's overall attacking play even when not scoring. Nevertheless, for a side creating as many opportunities as Bolton did, there was a lingering sense that Burstow never quite became the clinical focal point many had hoped he would.

Why Mason Burstow's Bolton spell should mean some concerns for Sheffield Wednesday

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For Sunderland and Hull City in the Championship, Burstow has flattered to deceive previously. Of course, his latest loan to Bolton, and his first season with Charlton Athletic, were much better than those years spent above the third tier, but there were still alarm bells Sheffield Wednesday must not ignore as they edge closer to completing his arrival.

Henrik Pedersen certainly needs additional attacking options after inheriting a youthful forward line including Will Grainger and Charlie McNeill. Harry Gray and Louie Barry have added to that but Burstow would provide valuable depth as well as experience beyond a few of that current group, despite his relatively young age.

Yet there is a difference between adding another body and signing someone capable of transforming an attack. League One will, once again, be fiercely competitive. Therefore, Sheffield Wednesday need forwards capable of consistently converting the chances they create.

If Burstow's confidence dips, history suggests his goals can dry up for weeks at a time. That inconsistency could prove to be costly for a club hoping to challenge near the top of the table rather than simply remain competitive. There is also the question of expectations, too.

Having struggled to establish himself in the Championship previously before producing only 12 goals for a promotion-winning Bolton side, Burstow cannot realistically be viewed as a guaranteed 20-goal striker. If Wednesday are relying on him to shoulder that responsibility, they could be setting themselves up for disappointment.

Why Sheffield Wednesday fans should be positive about signing Mason Burstow

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With all of that being said, there is a perfectly reasonable argument in favour of the move. Wednesday are rebuilding following relegation, which is why loan signings inevitably carry less financial risk than permanent transfers.

Burstow will be just 23 years old in 2026/27, has accumulated valuable experience across both League One and the Championship, and still possesses physical attributes that make him a difficult striker to handle on his day. He started 32 of the 53 games, registering five assists on top of the 12 goals.

He sometimes operated as more of a winger or even just behind the main centre-forward, so his versatility will be useful. Not only that, but a fresh environment under Pedersen could also help unlock greater consistency in his game, particularly if he is deployed within a system that suits his strengths.

As part of a broader recruitment strategy rather than the headline attacking addition, Burstow could prove to be a useful acquisition. Wednesday simply cannot afford to assume that his arrival alone will solve their goalscoring concerns after the warning signs displayed during his time at Bolton.