40 free agents Sheffield Wednesday or Sheffield United could sign | OneFootball

The Professional Footballers' Association announced a list of free agents training with them that could catch the eye of both Steel City sides

Both Sheffield clubs are facing financial constraints this summer, with Sheffield Wednesday operating under a strict transfer embargo and Sheffield United working with a limited budget following their play-off final defeat.

The Professional Footballers' Association announced a list of free agents that were joining them for pre-season - and some could catch the eye of both Steel City sides.

Wednesday's situation is particularly challenging, as the club has been placed under a registration embargo due to non-payment of players and faces a three-window transfer fee restriction until 2027.

This means the Owls can only recruit free agents and cannot spend any money on signings, making the PFA's list of available players a viable resource for recruitment.

Sheffield United, while not under the same restrictions, are operating with a limited - as first exclusively revealed by FLW.

PFA's pre-season list of free agents does provide opportunities for both Sheffield clubs

The PFA's release of available free agents training with them could be important for both teams as they look to strengthen their squads ahead of what promises to be another tough Championship season.

With Sheffield Wednesday arguably fighting to avoid relegation and Sheffield United aiming for promotion, both clubs need to identify players who can make an immediate impact without the potential financial burden of paying a fee.

The Owls' registration embargo means they can only maintain a squad of 23 'permitted players' and cannot recruit beyond this number until all outstanding payments are resolved.

The Blades' appointment of Ruben Selles has coincided with FLW's report of a limited transfer budget - and while the departure of Vini Souza to Wolfsburg for £13m provides some relief, the club still has to operate within constraints that make free agents an attractive option.

Players training with the PFA that might attract interest from South Yorkshire

There's no denying that from the PFA's list, there are not many with proven second-tier experience, but there's still perhaps a couple that could be on the cards.

Patrick Bauer's availability comes after a complex situation at Preston North End, where conflicting reports surrounded his potential move to Belgian side Charleroi in early 2024.

Bauer made 72 appearances for PNE since joining from Charlton Athletic in 2019, and the 6ft 4in defender initially formed an excellent partnership with former Blades loanee Ben Davies.

The German-born defender's career trajectory has been affected by a major Achilles injury in 2020 that sidelined him for more than 200 days. While he was phased out by Ryan Lowe at Preston, making just seven league appearances in his final 18 months at the club, his physical presence and aerial ability make him arguably the best defender training with the PFA.

Angus Gunn is currently training with the PFA

Angus Gunn stands out as perhaps the most high-profile free agent option on the list - he played 35 matches in the second-tier last season for Norwich City, more than anyone else currently training with the PFA.

The 29-year-old Scottish international being available for free is very good value for any Championship club - but particularly for Wednesday, given their complete lack of depth and financial situation - the only senior goalkeeper that has played a league game for the Owls is 19-year-old Pierce Charles.

Regardless of whether both clubs end up using this pool of players or not, they can still use the free agent market to their advantage. Wednesday don't really have the luxury of choosing where they can recruit from, and they may have to settle for some of the lesser names on the PFA's list if things don't improve soon.

The coming weeks will definitely prove crucial as both clubs will be wanting the best unattached players they can get, and it won't be surprising if a name on this list ends up playing in South Yorkshire next season.