Josh Windass, Sheffield United transfer revelation emerges - it would've broke Sheffield Wednesday hearts | OneFootball

Josh Windass' representatives held exploratory talks with Sheffield United before he joined Wrexham from Sheffield Wednesday

Josh Windass left financially-troubled Sheffield Wednesday to join Wrexham last summer, but things could have been very different for the man who was adored by the Hillsborough faithful.

Wednesday supporters will forever be grateful for the fact that Windass scored their dramatic late winner in their League One play-off final triumph over South Yorkshire rivals Barnsley in 2023.

Owls fans could not blame the forward for leaving Hillsborough last summer, when players were not being paid on time, thanks to the mismanagement of former owner Dejphon Chansiri, who ultimately dragged the S6 outfit into administration.

Alongside Windass' exit, Wednesday also witnessed the departures of the likes of Callum Paterson, Michael Ihiekwe, and Djeidi Gassama, who is now managed by ex-Owls boss Danny Rohl at Rangers.

Josh Windass Blades transfer reveal emerges ahead of Sheffield United vs Wrexham

The former Wednesday ace will know that he will be the pantomime villain at Bramall Lane this Saturday, when Sheffield United host Wrexham.

Windass' club know that they have to come away from South Yorkshire with a victory, amid their play-off chase, following Tuesday's 3-1 defeat at Watford.

Southampton defeated Norwich City 1-0 on Wednesday to leapfrog Wrexham into the top six, so Phil Parkinson's men cannot afford another slip-up, although they remain level on points with the Saints for now.

In contrast, Sheffield United will likely have to wait until next season to land a top-six spot in the Championship, having struggled for consistency this term.

Meanwhile, the Sheffield Star have revealed that Windass' representatives held exploratory talks with Blades staff over a potential cross-city move from Hillsborough to Bramall Lane last summer.

However, the 32-year-old instead completed the significantly less controversial transfer to Wrexham and is vying to fire the North Wales outfit to the Premier League.

Windass has scored nine goals and produced five assists in 33 Championship appearances for the Red Dragons this term, and would love to find himself on the scoresheet against the Blades, even though it has now emerged that he could have moved to Bramall Lane last summer.

Sheffield Wednesday supporters will have mixed feelings regarding Josh Windass, Sheffield United reveal

Windass was already highly appreciated by the Hillsborough faithful, thanks to his aforementioned League One promotion-clinching exploits.

The former Wigan Athletic man then enhanced his reputation in S6 by notching six goals and two assists in the 2023/24 Championship season, which witnessed the Owls avoid relegation back to the third tier in unlikely circumstances.

Windass went on to produce his best second-tier return last season, scoring 13 goals and producing five assists in the league as Wednesday landed a comfortable top-half finish.

However, the 32-year-old would have tarnished his Owls reputation if he had decided to join fierce Steel City Derby rivals Sheffield United last summer.

The Wednesday faithful would have been particularly annoyed if Windass had turned out in Blades colours the day that Chris Wilder's men relegated Henrik Pedersen's side to League One last month.

Meanwhile, some Owls supporters will find it amusing that their former star man held talks with the Bramall Lane club, only to decide to join Wrexham instead.