Why Sheffield Wednesday's move for ex-Leeds United star Liam Cooper collapsed | OneFootball

Sheffield Wednesday have been placed under two new transfer embargoes

Sheffield Wednesday have missed out on a free agent deal due to their latest transfer embargoes.

The Owls were placed under embargoes by the EFL in relation to non-payment of wages and transfer fees outstanding to other clubs during the summer, which had a massive impact on their recruitment.

These were eventually lifted, allowing them to bring in Ethan Horvath and Harry Amass on loan.

However, Wednesday were recently placed under two new embargoes by the Football League in relation to ‘Regulation 16.21.8 - Future Financial Information’ and ‘P&S Rule 2.10.3 - Secure Funding’, which surround owner Dejphon Chansiri’s inability to prove the club can be funded going forward.

After looking to have finally escaped their embargo woes, this news will come as a massive blow to the Steel City side’s supporters, with the consequences it has brought on their transfer plans even more severe.

Sheffield Wednesday miss out on Liam Cooper deal due to latest transfer embargoes

The new restrictions placed upon Wednesday will only be lifted when Chansiri can prove his ability to fund the club going forward.

Henrik Pedersen has been keen to add some new faces to his squad with the EFL’s approval; however the Owls’ latest embargoes have scuppered those plans.

According to the Sheffield Star, a deal for ex-Leeds United captain Liam Cooper was ready to be completed as soon as Chansiri could satisfy the EFL’s concerns.

However, their new embargoes prevent them from doing so. Outside of the transfer window, clubs under such restrictions can only sign free agents when they have fewer than 16 players with three or more league starts at a club’s current level or higher.

Wednesday already have 16 of these within their fold, which means that with their current embargoes in place, they won’t be able to sign any free agents, which means no deal for Cooper.

Liam Cooper would’ve been a solid signing for Sheffield Wednesday

Given the youthful complexion of Wednesday’s current squad, adding an experienced operator such as Cooper into the mix would’ve been a much-welcomed piece of business.

The 34-year-old played out of Elland Road for 10 years and knows exactly how to unify a group going through tough circumstances.

His quality and presence in the Owls’ backline could’ve given their survival hopes a massive boost, but it seems like now there is no chance of a deal being completed.

This will be tough for Wednesday fans to take, especially after the summer of torment they were forced to endure.