Sheffield Wednesday told to sign Sunderland player on one condition this summer | OneFootball

Matty Young has been linked with a potential move to S6 ahead of the League One season

Sheffield Wednesday are gearing up for a first season as a League One club in three years, although excitement is now certainly rife at Hillsborough after the club's long-awaited takeover was confirmed on the final day of their dismal Championship campaign.

Indeed, the Owls now hold the unwanted record of the EFL's earliest-ever relegation, which was confirmed in February as a result of a well-documented 18-point deduction due to entering administration last October and for further financial irregularities later in 2025.

However, the South Yorkshire outfit, their players, manager Henrik Pedersen and, most importantly, the long-suffering supporters at Hillsborough could breat a huge collective sigh of relief on May 1st when David Storch's acquisition through his consortium - Arise Capital Partners LLC - was completed.

In the process, the EFL also put to bed any rumours of spending limits and a further 15-point deduction heading into the third tier season, meaning Pedersen will be afforded the chance to finally recruit without limitations as Owls boss, having had to see previous free agent deals ratified by the governing body.

That said, an instant promotion back to the Championship will still not be a foregone conclusion despite the club's stature after they were relegated alongside Leicester City and Oxford United.

Last month, Wednesday released their retained list, and whilst still fully contracted to the club, exit talk continues to surround Northern Ireland international goalkeeper and prized asset, Pierce Charles.

However, reports have recently emerged stating that the newly-relegated Owls and Foxes are involved in a transfer battle for Sunderland shot-stopper, Matty Young, and it is a move which would be welcomed by Football League World's Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit, Patrick McKenna.

Sheffield Wednesday backed for Matty Young transfer move as key condition raised

In their relegation season, despite Charles' obvious potential and qualities, injury issues meant the 20-year-old was replaced in emergency loan deals by the likes of Joe Lumley, Murphy Cooper and Seny Dieng.

However, in recent weeks, the Manchester-born man has been heavily linked with the likes of Queens Park Rangers and Cardiff City, among others - with the aforementioned Championship sides' interest exclusively broken by FLW.

Young, meanwhile, has been on Sunderland's books for many years, but is yet to break into the first-team fold on Wearside at 19 years of age, instead spending the past two seasons on loan with Salford City in League Two.

The England Under-20 international kept 25 clean sheets in 77 games for the Ammies, who recently lost their play-off final 3-0 to Notts County at Wembley Stadium, and whilst seen as a future mainstay for Sunderland, is attracting interest from Wednesday and Leicester.

Reacting to such transfer talk, McKenna told FLW: "Matty Young would definitely be a signing I'd welcome at Hillsborough.

"He's of a good age, in that he has plenty of time to develop and get better. That would fit in with the vision of bringing in younger players and maybe selling them on for future profit.

"I've read comments from Sunderland fans, and they think he can play at a higher level than League Two, so maybe League One would be a good challenge for him.

"I would want us to bring in an experienced goalkeeper as well," he added. "Obviously, you want goalkeepers to get minutes, but having him as a sole 'number one' wouldn't be the right option.

"If we could get him in and get him some experience in League One, I certainly think that's what I would welcome," McKenna stated.

Sheffield Wednesday must target a mixture of youthful and experienced signings ahead of League One

Given his impressive record of clean sheets in the fourth tier at his age, it perhaps isn't the greatest of surprises that Young is held in such high regard at his parent club, whose other goalkeepers, such as Anthony Patterson, are also the subject of transfer discourse.

As McKenna alluded to though, the Owls must target a mixture of youth and experience, particularly between the sticks, where a departure of Charles could leave them incredibly short-staffed.

However, there are certainly far worse options out on the market at this moment in time, and potentially capturing his signature ahead of Leicester would only add to the current confidence in S6, with both clubs already tipped by many to challenge for promotion in critical rebuilding seasons.