Sheffield Wednesday should consider Portsmouth approach with Leicester, Middlesbrough target: View | OneFootball

Sheffield Wednesday are heading towards an important summer transfer window after surviving in the Championship last season. Manager Danny Rohl will have tough decisions to make on which of his targets are worth chasing, and those that could take up vital time.

Michael Baidoo, 25, is a player that may sit in the latter category. The Elfsborg midfielder is being pursued by both Leicester City and Middlesbrough, and with a seven-figure transfer fee being reported, Wednesday may have to follow and learn from Porstmouth by dropping their interest in a highly-sought after star.

It was first reported that the 25-year-old was a target for Rohl's side last week by FotbollDirekt, a Swedish football website. However, it is suggested that Elfsborg have set a price tag of €3-4 million.

Baidoo joined Elfsborg in January 2022 from Norweigan club Sadnes ULF, and has made 69 appearances in all competitions for the Swedish side - scoring 18 goals and assisting 12 times.

Portsmouth's Dembele saga could save Rohl time

Pompey are one of several clubs that have taken an interest in Stade Brest's Karamoko Dembele, 21, but similar to Wednesday's target of Baidoo, they have been fighting against clubs in a higher division.

The former Celtic wonderkid spent the 2023/24 season on loan at League One Blackpool, in which he provided eight goals and 13 assists in 39 League One games, helping the club to eighth in the table.

Although Dembele has only played a miniscule number of games in his fledgling career, he is being looked at by Nottingham Forest, Everton and West Ham United. Therefore, Portsmouth have slowed their own interest in the winger, aiming for other targets and saving themselves precious time in the transfer window instead of entering a bidding war, according to a report from The News.

Portsmouth were hoping that Dembele could fill the role left by loan star Abu Kamara, who pitched in with 18 goal involvements in 46 games as his side finished top of League One.

Wednesday should follow in the footsteps of the newly promoted side, and focus on other targets that could be more guaranteed to make Hillsborough their new home.

Wednesday could step up interest in departing Leeds United attacker

One player that could be of further desire for Rohl if they do reduce their interest in Baidoo, is Ian Poveda, 24.

The London-born player has struggled to fit in at Elland Road since his arrival in 2020, and spent the second half of last season on loan at Wednesday - where he was utilised as both an attacking midfielder and out on the wings.

Poveda is set to leave Leeds at the end of the month as a free agent, after featuring just 30 times in all competitions. However, a potential return to Hillsborough has been reported by Darren Witcoop. The move could reignite his career, and see him recover the form he found for Manchester City's U23 and U18 teams.

The 24-year-old plies his international trade for Colombia, and was an extremely exciting addition to Rohl's side as they survived in the Championship last time out. But, injuries halted his progress in blue-and-white.

Wednesday aren't going to have the spending power of other clubs in the Championship and may have to pick their battles carefully as a result. Snapping up Poveda on a free transfer is one deal that would make perfect sense while splashing millions on Baidoo could well be the wrong call, if it is even with their reach.