Sheffield Wednesday face transfer blow as Bradford City step in | OneFootball

Sheffield Wednesday target Reece Welch is training with League One rivals Bradford City.

Former Everton defender Reece Welch is in the hunt for a new club this summer after leaving the Toffees following the expiration of his contract.

For the first time in his career, Welch will be looking for a new permanent home this summer, having spent 16 years on the blue side of Merseyside, where he rose through the academy ranks and made four senior appearances for the club.

However, the 22-year-old has spent most of the last few seasons playing in Everton's under-21s, having previously spent time on loan with Forest Green Rovers and Belgian second tier outfit Deinze.

With his last loan spell coming in 2024, Welch has since been on the radar of plenty of League One sides, but a temporary switch to the third tier never materialised for him.

Now, the former Everton star is without a club, having left the Toffees this summer, but his search for a new home may not take as long as he anticipated given this latest development.

Sheffield Wednesday target Reece Welch spotted training with Bradford City

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One club credited with interest in Welch's signature this summer is League One newboys Sheffield Wednesday, who are undergoing an enormous rebuild under new owner David Storch.

The Owls have already made several quality signings this summer, including the likes of Ricardo Santos, Louie Barry, Harry Gray, and of course, the return of legendary midfielder Barry Bannan.

However, a fresh twist in the Welch saga has come to light via rather unlikely means, as Bradford City star Antoni Sarcevic posted a picture to his Instagram story of the Bantams squad in pre-season training, with the ex-Everton man present.

In the photo, Welch is depicted on the far right of a group of Bradford players, following what looks to be a pre-season training session.

The Yorkshire-based side took on FC Halifax Town in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, where they won 6-1 and fielded four trialists, although it's unknown whether one of these was Welch.

This latest development comes just weeks after Wednesday were credited with interest by transfer guru Pete O'Rourke alongside Danish side Horsens.

Bradford City fans react to latest Reece Welch revelation

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After another account posted the image shared by Sarcevic to X, some Bradford supporters weighed in with their thoughts on the news that Welch is training with the club.

One fan was pleased to see Welch training with the club, as he could provide a solid backup for Matt Pennington, who struggles with injury issues.

Another was happy as they believe Welch brings plenty of potential to the table on relatively cheap wages, making him an ideal backup.