'We were in danger' - Sheffield Wednesday reaction given to Pierce Charles transfer situation | OneFootball

FLW's Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit has given his thoughts on how much the Owls could earn from goalkeeper Pierce Charles' move to Manchester City.

It has been a positive start to the summer for Sheffield Wednesday, but they could be set to lose one of their prized assets.

The feel-good factor has returned to Hillsborough since David Storch's Arise Capital Partners consortium completed their takeover of Wednesday in May, and it has been a busy first few months for the new ownership.

The Owls have brought in four new signings so far this summer in Ricardo Santos, Sil Swinkels, Jordi Liongola and Callum Slattery, and further additions could be imminent, with the South Yorkshire outfit believed to be closing in on deals for Barry Bannan, Harry Gray and Louie Barry.

However, Wednesday have already lost one of their star men following their relegation to League One, with midfielder Svante Ingelsson making the move to Stoke City for a fee of more than £1 million, and it seems goalkeeper Pierce Charles is set to follow him out of the exit door.

Having spent time in the club's academy earlier in his career, Charles is thought to be on the verge of a return to former club Manchester City, and while the Premier League giants will pay an initial fee of £3 million for the 21-year-old, the deal could be worth as much as £10 million if all add-ons are met.

However, it is unclear whether Charles will be part of City's first team squad immediately as they begin a new era under Enzo Maresca, with the club yet to decide whether to keep him at the Etihad Stadium next season or send him out on loan.

Sheffield Wednesday reaction given as details of Pierce Charles, Man City deal emerge

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When asked for his thoughts on the reported deal for Charles, FLW's Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit Patrick McKenna insisted that receiving a guaranteed £3 million still represents good business for a League One club, and he predicted that the Owls would eventually land the entire £10 million.

"At the end of the day, we have to remember the weak situation we are in in these negotiations," Patrick told FLW.

"We are a League One club and we have a player in the final year of his contract, so it's the fault of the previous owner that this is the case and that a new deal wasn't sorted.

"Indeed, we were in danger of losing him for absolute peanuts towards the end of the Chansiri era.

"Now we're in League One, £3 million up front for a player is not to be sniffed at.

"There are also the add-ons, and I think that, with the potential Pierce Charles has, all of those add-ons will be met, so £10 million could be the final fee.

"Although we have had a lot of our restrictions lifted, we are still under a business plan, and the owners can't put any of their money in towards transfers, so to get £3 million in to reinvest is a real positive.

"The important thing is not thinking that we could have got more money before him, but to be grateful that we could negotiate something and use the money we've got to reinvest in the team."

Sheffield Wednesday should not be disappointed by Pierce Charles, Man City deal

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If the club were in a stronger negotiating position, it is likely that Wednesday could have secured a higher up-front fee for Charles, but as Storch continues to clean up the mess of the chaotic Dejphon Chansiri era at Hillsborough, the £3 million income will certainly be welcome.

Charles is a goalkeeper with huge potential, and while his path to City's starting line-up is challenging with the obstacle of Gianluigi Donnarumma ahead of him, there is no doubt he has all the attributes to succeed at the highest level.

The Owls are said to be confident that the fee they receive for Charles will rise to at least £5 million when the more achievable add-ons are met, but if Charles is able to establish himself at the Etihad Stadium, they could bank significantly more than that.