Harry Amass comments spark new Sheffield Wednesday transfer regret - it involves Henrik Pedersen | OneFootball

The signing of Manchester United defender Harry Amass will leave Sheffield Wednesday supporters wondering what could have been this summer.

With the transfer window now closed, Sheffield Wednesday supporters will be glad to see one of the most turbulent summers in the club's history come to an end, even if there is still plenty of uncertainty hanging over Hillsborough.

After failing to pay the wages of players and staff on time on multiple occasions during the course of the summer, Wednesday were hit with a four-window ban on paying transfer fees, which will remain in place until the end of January 2027, as well as three separate transfer embargoes.

Those embargoes may have been lifted before the end of the window, but the Owls remained severely restricted in what transfer business they were able to do as under-fire owner Dejphon Chansiri was unable to prove to the EFL that he had the funds required to fulfil his financial obligations this season.

Wednesday ended the summer with just two new signings, with goalkeeper Ethan Horvath and defender Harry Amass joining on loan from Cardiff City and Manchester United respectively, and after a host of high-profile departures, including the likes of Anthony Musaba, Djeidi Gassama, Josh Windass and Michael Smith, manager Henrik Pedersen has been left with a squad of only 17 senior players.

Given their ongoing off-field problems, it was always unlikely that the EFL were going to allow the Owls to make too many signings, but the arrival of Amass does suggest that the club have missed a big opportunity this summer.

While Wednesday's threadbare squad does increase the chances of regular game time, many Premier League clubs would likely be reluctant to send their young talents to Hillsborough given the chaotic environment at the club, but it seems both United and Amass were keen to get the deal over the line.

In fact, not only were the Red Devils open to doing business with the Owls, but they were willing to agree to pay all of Amass' £5,000-a-week salary, as well as footing the bill for his accommodation costs during his time in South Yorkshire, while they will also be covering any bonuses he picks up between now and the expiry of his loan spell in January.

Amass is believed to have attended Wednesday's 3-0 home defeat to Stoke City as far back as mid-August as Pedersen attempted to convince him to join, and on the basis of his comments after the move was completed, it seems the Dane played a crucial role in his decision to accept the club's offer.

"I just had a good feeling instantly when I spoke to the manager. I got the feeling that this will be the best place for me, the history of the place is massive and that’s why I chose here," Amass told the club's official website.

"I think I’ve learned a lot, the move to Manchester United was a good step, the right step for me and since then I’ve been with the first team. From that I have taken a lot of things, learned a lot of things and it has really developed me as a player."

Sheffield Wednesday have missed a big Henrik Pedersen opportunity amid Dejphon Chansiri saga

Amass is a highly-rated youngster who has made seven senior appearances for United, and the Premier League giants would have weighed up all the options incredibly carefully before deciding where to send him out on loan.

There is likely to have been significant interest in Amass, and PSV Eindhoven, who won the Eredivisie title last season, were believed to have been hoping to land his services, but the Old Trafford hierarchy were keen for the 18-year-old to work under Pedersen, hence their determination to get a deal over the line.

Given the current turmoil at Hillsborough, Pedersen has had little chance to show his managerial or tactical ability this season, but the Dane has formed strong relationships with many of those who have worked with him, and the fact he reportedly turned down advances from Brentford and Strasbourg in order to replace Danny Rohl as Wednesday boss shows how well-regarded he is within the football world.

It seems United were not the only club who were looking to send one of their youngsters to play under Pedersen, as Manchester City were willing to allow forward Jaden Heskey to join the Owls before the deal was blocked by the EFL, and a number of other Premier League loans were believed to be close too, but the troubled South Yorkshire outfit were not given the green light to finalise them.

While it is unclear whether their clubs would have sanctioned the moves, Wednesday were said to have been interested in Chelsea midfielder Sam Rak-Sakyi and Aston Villa forward Zepiqueno Redmond, who instead joined League One side Huddersfield Town.

The Owls may only have been able to complete one deadline day deal, but Amass' arrival at Hillsborough is a clear indication of Pedersen's pulling power, and it will leave many supporters wondering what kind of players he may have been able to bring to the club in normal circumstances, particularly if he had money to spend.