Sheffield Wednesday in talks to sign free agent midfielder

Mohamed Konate, a free agency midfielder, is apparently being considered by Sheffield Wednesday for a contract offer.

According to The Star, Wednesday is reportedly having talks about signing Konate following his preseason trial period with the team.

After leaving Portuguese team Covilha earlier this summer after a brief stint there during which he was instrumental in his team’s tight escape from relegation from the third level, Konate is now a free agent.

The Owls have had two of their three transfer embargoes lifted after paying the salaries of their staff and players for May and June and paying money owed to HMRC. However, they are still subject to one for unpaid debts to other clubs and have been hit with a three-window ban on paying transfer fees, which would not apply to Konate.

Along with Middlesbrough and Leicester City, Wednesday is one of just three Championship teams that have not signed a player this summer. However, that might change as they determine whether to extend an offer to Konate.

Sheffield Wednesday is negotiating a possible trade for Mohamed Konate.

Even though Konate only played 10 games for Covilha last season and scored two goals while receiving two red cards, Wednesday seems to have taken notice of his achievements in the Portuguese third division.

After leaving Covilha, the 20-year-old has been on trial with the Owls for the past few weeks. Earlier this month, he traveled to St George’s Park with the team for their training camp, and on Friday, he was a member of the young team that suffered a 3-1 loss against Stocksbridge Park Steels.

Though it’s unclear how that would impact any possible deal, it appears that Konate has impressed during his trial period with Wednesday. According to The Star, talks are currently taking place regarding whether to sign the midfield player. However, he would take up one of their Elite Significant Contribution (ESC) spots.

The Owls have lost four of their best players in recent weeks: forwards Josh Windass and Michael Smith left Hillsborough last week after their contracts were mutually terminated, while Anthony Musaba joined Turkish team Samsunspor for £800,000 and fellow winger Djeidi Gassama completed a £2.2 million move to Rangers.

The addition of Konate would be a welcome boost as a result of those departures, which left Wednesday with an extremely thin squad ahead of the new season, which begins in less than three weeks. However, it is unclear exactly who will be making the decision to offer manager Danny Rohl a contract given the recent uncertainty surrounding his future following the failure of the club’s proposed takeover.

As the new season approaches, Sheffield Wednesday is in dire need of fresh players.

Wednesday appears woefully unprepared for the start of the new season following a tumultuous summer in which they lost many of their key players.

The Owls need more center midfield alternatives because captain Barry Bannan hasn’t signed a new deal and last season’s Player of the Year, Shea Charles, is returning to parent club Southampton. Konate would assist increase the team’s numbers in that area.

Wednesday fans may naturally be skeptical of Konate’s ability to advance to the Championship given that he played in the Portuguese third division the previous season, but it will be challenging for them to draw in players of a higher caliber this summer given their off-field issues under owner Dejphon Chansiri, which are not going away.