Millwall have reportedly made a formal approach for Sheffield Wednesday captain Barry Bannan, with the deal expected to be completed this week.
Bannan has spent more than a decade at Wednesday since joining on a free transfer from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2015, but his future was thrown into doubt earlier this month when it was revealed that he was attracting interest from Millwall, Stoke City, Preston North End, Motherwell and Hibernian.
Millwall emerged as front-runners to land Bannan’s signature last week, but it was claimed on Saturday morning that the Lions were yet to make an official approach for the 36-year-old, while no permission had been granted for talks to take place.
However, after scoring 37 goals and providing 75 assists in 477 games for the club, Bannan made what seems certain to be his final appearance in a Wednesday shirt in the 2-0 defeat to Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Saturday, with his tearful farewell to the away supporters after the final whistle suggesting that his exit is imminent.
It appears Bannan’s move to The Den is now edging closer, with BBC Radio Sheffield journalist Rob Staton revealing that Millwall made a formal approach for the midfielder on Saturday night, and the deal is due to be finalised this week.
Bannan had previously stated his desire to remain at Wednesday for the rest of his career, and despite the off-field turmoil, he signed a new contract at Hillsborough in the summer on vastly reduced wages of around £7,000-a-week.
However, with the Owls all but guaranteed to be relegated to League One this season, and with no imminent sign of a takeover being completed as the wait continues to discover whether the EFL will approve James Bord’s consortium, Bannan has decided to call time on his spell in S6.
Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen revealed on Saturday that Bannan had indicated his desire to depart, telling The Star: “I can say that Barry wants to leave and of course I don’t want it to be that he has to leave, but Barry and his representatives are speaking with the club to find a solution.”
With Millwall having made a formal approach for Bannan on Saturday night, it has been reported that he underwent a medical with the Lions on Sunday ahead of his move to The Den, and the deal is set to be concluded in the coming days.
However, the Owls are unlikely to receive a fee for Bannan, with a verbal agreement believed to be in place to allow him to leave on a free transfer, and it remains to be seen whether they will be given permission from the EFL to bring in a replacement for their talisman.
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