Sheffield Wednesday, Svante Ingelsson transfer regret claim made - Owls are not 'in normal circumstances' | OneFootball

FLW's Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit believes that Svante Ingelsson is worth more than what their administrators are demanding

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

As if matters couldn't get worse for Sheffield Wednesday on the field, an already depleted squad is forecast to be gutted even further in the final week of the January transfer window.

There have been few senior players who have been mainstays in the Owls side this season, with injuries affecting Henrik Pedersen's team selection week in, week out.

However, the midfield duo of Barry Bannan and Svante Ingelsson have, for the most part, been untouched this year.

But, with days remaining of the winter window, Wednesday captain Bannan looks to be on his way out, with Millwall the side set to capitalise, and Ingelsson may be following suit, too, with fellow relegation-battling Championship side Portsmouth confident of striking a deal.

Pompey had an opening bid rejected by the Hillsborough-based side, with it being revealed by Alan Nixon days later that Sheffield Wednesday are holding out for £500,000 for the Swedish midfielder.

Patrick McKenna, FLW's Owls fan pundit, has debated this asking price, and while he believes that Ingelsson is worth at least double that, he concedes that their current financial situation dwindles their negotiation power massively.

Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit discusses Svante Ingelsson asking price

It's been over three months now since Sheffield Wednesday were placed into administration, in turn ending a decade-long reign of ownership by Dejphon Chansiri, which was mired by financial difficulties in the final months.

Late wage payments led to contract breaches and several established first-teamers departing the club for free in the summer, meaning that there aren't many sellable assets remaining at Hillsborough.

Those who are left are therefore not priced up, and it's often the case that lesser offers will be accepted by a club in administration to ensure some money in the bank during a time of financial uncertainty.

McKenna feels that this is the case with Ingelsson, and he doesn't hold it against their Championship rivals for trying to take advantage of that situation.

"The fact is, at the minute, we're still in administration, and clubs will try and come in and get our players for as low a price as possible," he said. You can't blame them for taking advantage.

"In normal circumstances, I'd like to think that we'd be pushing for closer to £1 million [for Ingelsson].

"Although I don't think he's an outstanding player, he is capable of playing Championship football, and as a result, we should be looking to get as much for him as we could, but we're not in a great negotiating position."

While their negotiating stance is rather weak, Wednesday's administrators can at least be credited for rejecting a first bid and holding out for an asking price, even if the £500,000 fee is low in McKenna's eyes.

The fan pundit doesn't feel that his side will be able to hold out for much longer, though, and is almost mentally preparing for yet another senior player to depart Hillsborough this season.

"I know we rejected one bid, but I can't see us being in a situation to reject numerous ones," McKenna continued.

"I can see him going for in and around that kind of money, but in normal circumstances, he's worth a lot more."

A Svante Ingelsson departure will be another gut punch for Sheffield Wednesday this season

While McKenna doesn't exactly believe that Ingelsson is the best midfielder in the Championship, a departure for the Swede would have that effect on the majority of Wednesday fans, simply due to his availability across the season.

The 27-year-old has been one of the constant fit senior players at Hillsborough this season, and his departure would only open the door for another young, unproven player from the academy or another no-fee loan signing to come in and fill his shoes.

Henrik Pedersen's side have struggled to control games throughout the campaign, so losing senior players in the engine room will only serve to worsen an already dire situation on the field.

This season has been horrid for Wednesday fans, and those remaining who still have some hope when it comes to on-field results this season are having it dashed with the news of even further departures.