Sheffield Wednesday eye swoop for Manchester City coach | OneFootball

Manchester City could be subject to interest from Championship side Sheffield Wednesday over one of their Academy coaches, according to a new report.

The Etihad Stadium side have become renowned for producing not only top young talent on the pitch but also highly regarded staff behind the scenes.

From Carlos Vicens’ move to Braga earlier this summer to the steady stream of Academy graduates finding new roles across Europe, Manchester City’s coaching setup has attracted consistent outside admiration.

It now appears another member of their youth system could be approached by a club looking to rebuild its backroom staff as Sheffield Wednesday undergo a period of significant transition under Henrik Pedersen.

With financial issues leaving the Owls short of resources this summer, Pedersen has leant heavily on internal figures. But the Championship side are now eager to bolster their setup, identifying one of Manchester City’s staff members.

The City Football Academy has long been viewed as a breeding ground for tactical and coaching expertise, with figures such as Enzo Maresca and Mikel Arteta moving on to their high-profile managerial positions with Chelsea and Arsenal respectively.

The emergence of a new target from the U21s setup highlights once again how Pep Guardiola’s influence and the broader Manchester City model have created pathways not only for players but for staff across the footballing pyramid.

According to the information of the Sheffield Star’s Joe Crann, Sheffield Wednesday manager, Henrik Pedersen is very keen to bring on new coaches having been unable to hire a technical team due to the financial issues at the club.

While both Andy Holdsworth – from the U21s – and Giles Coke – from the U18s – have stepped up to help and received high praise from the Owls boss, one potential recruit is Manchester City’s U21s assistant, Craig Mudd.

If Sheffield Wednesday are successful in their approach, it would represent another example of City’s coaching tree extending across the professional game. For Mudd, a move to Hillsborough could provide the chance to make the step from youth development into a more senior environment.

For City, however, the potential loss of Mudd would add to the growing list of coaching changes this year, following the exit of Vicens to Braga and continued reshuffling at youth level to accommodate incoming prospects.

However, it could also open the door for fresh appointments within the U21s structure, offering further opportunities to emerging coaches within the City Football Academy.

Much will depend on whether Wednesday can overcome their financial restrictions to formalise their interest. But with Pedersen determined to put his stamp on the club, and Mudd increasingly recognised, this is a link that may continue to gather momentum.