According to Football Insider, Sheffield Wednesday have ‘joined the race to sign’ Dion Sanderson this summer. The 20-year-old has shone during a brief stint on loan at Cardiff City and has a number of clubs keen on his services – Brighton & Hove Albion, Huddersfield Town, Cardiff and Aston Villa.
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As per Transfermarkt, Wednesday have been thrifty in the transfer market for the last two seasons. In 2018/19, four of the Owls’ five signings were on loan. In 2019/20, they brought in 11 players – five on a free transfer and five on loan. Their only permanent signing was Massimo Luongo for less than £1m. Sanderson would fit the bill for their budget.
He only joined Cardiff in January and has just three appearances under his belt for the Bluebirds but has already made a big impression. Sanderson had to wait a number of weeks for his debut under Neil Harris, but he’s been a regular ever since, albeit in a makeshift right-back role.
As per WhoScored, the centre-back has amassed 261 minutes of Championship football, made one assist, completed 68.8% of his 77 passes, won seven aerial duels (70%), made four successful dribbles (100%), blocked three shots/passes, made eight clearances given away only two fouls and averaged a tackle (5) or interception (8) every 20 minutes.
It remains to be seen what Sanderson’s arrival would mean for Wednesday’s existing players, however. Liam Palmer and Moses Odubajo are the Owls’ right-back options while Tom Lees, Julian Borner and Dominic Iorfa make up the centre-backs. Monk may be eyeing more cover at the back rather than replacing players in his squad.
Wednesday could benefit from another central defender, as David Bates has spent the season frozen out of the first-team and will return to parent club Hamburg this summer. Monk may want two players in each position for the 2020/21 campaign, but whether he can beat out interest from Cardiff, Brighton, Huddersfield and Villa to land Sanderson’s signature remains to be seen.
