Sheffield Wednesday plot Aston Villa transfer raid | OneFootball

Sheffield Wednesday have eyed a loan move for an Aston Villa starlet

Sheffield Wednesday are continuing to build their squad following David Storch's takeover.

The Owls lost several key players both last summer and in the winter transfer window, thanks to former owner Dejphon Chansiri's financial mismanagement and their subsequent time in administration.

However, things have been looking up for the South Yorkshire outfit since Storch took the ownership reins, and defender Ricardo Santos has already signed from Championship club Swansea City.

Having lost so many players in recent months, though, Wednesday need plenty of reinforcements as they vie to win promotion back to the second tier at the first time of asking.

Sheffield Wednesday eye loan deal for young Aston Villa defender

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The Owls' recent deal for Santos proves their appetite to bring in permanent signings as well as bolster their defence, while the 31-year-old has plenty of League One experience, thanks to his Bolton Wanderers days.

Meanwhile, Barry Bannan is closing in on a Wednesday return, as per the Sheffield Star, which would strengthen Henrik Pedersen's midfield and increase his side's promotion chances.

Bannan spent a decade and a half at Hillsborough Stadium before reluctantly joining Millwall in the winter transfer window, amid the Owls' aforementioned financial struggles.

Meanwhile, Wednesday and Blackburn Rovers are keen on Huddersfield Town striker Joe Taylor, according to Football Insider.

Taylor excelled while on loan with Wigan Athletic last term, notching 11 goals in 21 League One appearances for the Latics, even though they were battling against relegation.

Permanent deals for the likes of Bannan and Taylor would clearly bolster the Owls' chances of having a successful campaign next term, but loan moves could also prove fruitful.

According to the Sheffield Star, Wednesday are keen on completing a loan move for Aston Villa defender Sil Swinkels, who has made two senior appearances for the Premier League club.

The 22-year-old made his Villa debut in their 2020/21 FA Cup campaign before featuring for them in the EFL Cup in the 2024/25 term.

Swinkels has subsequently earned EFL experience on loan with Bristol Rovers, Exeter City, and Chesterfield, reaching the League Two play-offs with the Spireites last season.

The young Dutchman started last campaign on loan with Exeter, where he made 11 appearances across all competitions before being recalled by Villa and immediately deployed to Chesterfield in January.

Swinkels was a standout performer for Paul Cook's side last season, earning 22 starts in League Two before making a strong account of himself against Notts County in the play-off semi-finals despite his side's defeat.

Sil Swinkels is ready to prove a point in League One

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The fact that Villa remain interested in sending the 22-year-old on loan once more, rather than cashing in on his permanent services, suggests that he is highly rated by Unai Emery.

Meanwhile, Swinkels earned League One experience when he was on loan with both Bristol Rovers and Exeter, but he still has a point to prove in the third tier.

The Villa youngster was part of the Rovers team who were relegated to League Two at the end of the 2024/25 season, and he made just seven league appearances for the Grecians last term.