Sheffield Wednesday to rival Cardiff City for Liverpool transfer | OneFootball

Sheffield Wednesday have reportedly set their sights on Liverpool defender Calum Scanlon as their squad rebuild continues.

Sheffield Wednesday are reportedly keen to sign Liverpool defender Calum Scanlon on loan, but they face competition from his former club Cardiff City.

After suffering relegation from the Championship last season, it has been a busy summer for Wednesday following the takeover by David Storch's Arise Capital Partners consortium, and it seems there could be further activity before the end of the transfer window.

Sheffield Wednesday plotting transfer raid for Liverpool defender Calum Scanlon

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As Wednesday rebuild their squad ahead of their return to League One, they have brought in no fewer than 13 new signings so far this summer.

The Owls got their season underway with a 1-0 victory over Championship side Bolton Wanderers at Hillsborough in the Carabao Cup on Saturday, and it seems their search for new additions is continuing ahead of this weekend's league opener at Leyton Orient.

According to the Daily Mail, Wednesday are interested in signing Liverpool defender Scanlon on loan for the upcoming campaign, with the South Yorkshire outfit said to be "making a concerted effort" to seal a deal for the 21-year-old.

However, Scanlon is believed to be "attracting a number of enquiries" after catching the eye while featuring for the Reds during pre-season, and Cardiff are among his suitors after he spent the second half of last season on loan in South Wales.

Calum Scanlon could be set for Liverpool exit as Sheffield Wednesday and Cardiff City circle

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Scanlon made his senior debut for Liverpool in a 5-1 victory over Toulouse at Anfield in October 2023 before signing a new long-term contract the following April, but he has made a total of just two appearances for the Premier League giants so far.

The defender spent the 2024-25 season on loan at Millwall in the Championship, but his time at The Den was severely disrupted by injury, limiting him to just four appearances for the Lions, although he still managed to get on the scoresheet on one occasion.

After recovering from a serious hamstring injury, Scanlon joined Cardiff on loan in January, and he made eight appearances in the second half of last season to help the Bluebirds to automatic promotion from League One, but only two of those came from the start.

Despite his lack of game time at the Cardiff City Stadium last season, the Welsh side are looking to bring him back to the club as they prepare for life in the Championship, but it appears Wednesday are pushing hardest for the England U20 international's signature as things stand.

With Max Lowe the only left-back on the club's books, Owls manager Henrik Pedersen has confirmed that he is hoping to strengthen in that position, and no decision has yet been made on whether to offer a contract to former defender Reece James, who is currently training at Hillsborough after his departure from Rotherham United this summer.

Sheffield Wednesday could face Calum Scanlon, Liverpool stumbling block

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Given Lowe's injury record, Wednesday are certainly in need of greater depth at left-back, and Scanlon could be a strong option after getting League One experience under his belt with Cardiff last season.

While he is still yet to convince many Owls supporters, Pedersen is a highly-rated coach within football circles, and having been trusted to develop the likes of Harry Amass and Jaden Heskey last season, Liverpool may be open to allowing Scanlon to work under the Dane.

However, Scanlon has struggled for minutes in both of his previous loan spells away from Anfield, and with Lowe likely to be Wednesday's first choice left-back this season, the Reds may have some doubts over how much game time he would receive at Hillsborough.