Sheffield Wednesday target Ian Poveda has reportedly signed a deal with fellow SkyBet Championship club Sunderland.
Football Insider transfer correspondent Pete O’Rourke has revealed that the free agent is set to join the Black Cats after completing a medical.
Sunderland Bound:
O’Rourke has reported that the 24-year-old has signed a four-year deal with Sunderland, after become available on a free transfer this summer. His contract at Leeds United expired earlier in the off-season, after he spent the second-half of last season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday.
He played just 30 games for Leeds, after originally joining the West Yorkshire outfit in 2020.
Poveda is now set to join Sunderland, with the deal set to be announced “imminently”.
Sheffield Wednesday Miss Out on Poveda:
Danny Rohl made no secret of Sheffield Wednesday’s interest in sealing a return for Poveda, after he enjoyed a loan spell at Hillsborough during their successful fight for Championship safety last term. He revealed to The Star yesterday that the Owls and Poveda’s team were “not matched” on a deal for the winger.
It now appears, following the fresh Football Insider reports that the 24-year-old will instead head to Sunderland, that Wednesday have indeed missed out on the former Chelsea academy product.
A Risky Move, But It Could Come Off – Opinion:
A deal that is four years long is never one that comes without some risk. The winger does not come with a clean injury record either, so Sunderland will be hoping they can keep the Colombian international fit during his stint in the North East.
Sheffield Wednesday were clearly keen on Ian Poveda, after his loan spell last season, but have now seemingly missed out on a return. That will be a blow for the Owls, but one they should be able to quickly recover from by signing one of their other targets.
On the flip side, Sunderland are an ambitious side, capable of pushing their way up a competitive Championship this summer. Poveda could be an addition that sparks something extra, after a rocky period for the once-giants of English football.