Sheffield Wednesday: Surprise transfer U-turn could be Danny Rohl's best summer decision | OneFootball

Sheffield Wednesday are reportedly interested in re-signing midfielder Stuart Armstrong, just months after releasing him.

It has been a nightmare summer for Sheffield Wednesday so far, and with just weeks to go until the start of the new Championship season, their troubles are showing no sign of easing.

Wednesday finished 12th in the Championship last season, but while they would have hoped to build on that progress in the upcoming campaign, the club has been plunged into crisis after a chaotic summer.

After Anthony Musaba made an £800,000 move to Samsunspor and Djeidi Gassama joined Rangers for a fee of £2.2 million, under-fire Owls owner Dejphon Chansiri was finally able to pay players and staff their salaries for May and June this week.

Having also settled the payments due to HMRC, Wednesday have had two of their three transfer embargoes lifted, but one still remains for the non-payment of transfer fees to other clubs, and the repercussions of the saga will be felt for some time to come as the South Yorkshire outfit are banned from paying transfer fees for the next three windows.

There was a brief moment of hope for beleaguered Owls supporters last week as it appeared that Chansiri's tenure may be coming to an end, but it was revealed on Wednesday the club's proposed takeover has now collapsed, and that could have big consequences, including for manager Danny Rohl's transfer plans.

Sheffield Wednesday targeting surprise Stuart Armstrong reunion

With off-field events dominating the headlines at Hillsborough this summer, there have been virtually no transfer rumours for Wednesday supporters to get excited about.

However, that changed over the weekend as journalist Alan Nixon revealed that the Owls are exploring the possibility of bringing midfielder Stuart Armstrong back to the club, just two months after releasing him.

Armstrong joined Wednesday from MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps in January, but he provided just one assist in 11 appearances during an injury-disrupted spell at the club in the second half of last season, and he was released at the end of his short-term contract in May.

Ambitious newly-promoted Championship outfit Wrexham reportedly made an enquiry for Armstrong earlier in the summer, but they are yet to offer him a contract, and that could pave the way for the 33-year-old to make an unexpected return to the Owls.

Given their current financial problems, Armstrong would likely have to accept a wage reduction if he was to re-sign for Wednesday, and with manager Danny Rohl's future now believed to be back up in the air after the proposed takeover fell through, the club's interest in the midfielder could be short-lived.

However, assuming Rohl is still in charge by the time the Owls' get their season underway against Leicester City next month, Armstrong could be a useful addition to his squad.

Sheffield Wednesday should hand Stuart Armstrong a second Hillsborough chance

Having spent much of his career playing at a high level with Celtic and Southampton, Armstrong's arrival at Hillsborough in January was greeted with much fanfare, and considering he had worked with Rohl previously at St Mary's, many hoped that the German could get the best out of him.

However, it would be fair to say that Armstrong failed to impress during his 11 appearances for Wednesday last season, with only six of those coming from the start, but in fairness to the Scotland international, his form was not helped by a calf injury that kept him out for over a third of his three-month spell at the club.

Armstrong's brief stint with the Owls may not have worked out, but he starred for Southampton in the 2023-24 season as they won promotion from the Championship via the play-offs, scoring six goals and providing seven assists in 45 appearances.

Prior to that, Armstrong had been a consistent performer for the Saints in the Premier League, and there is no doubt that, if he can stay fit, he would be an excellent option for any second tier club to have at their disposal.

After the departures of two of their main creative sparks in Musaba and Gassama, Wednesday are in desperate need of attacking reinforcements, and considering the extra recruitment challenges posed by their transfer restrictions, the addition of a player of Armstrong's quality and experience would be an incredibly welcome boost for Rohl.

In truth, Armstrong can do better than re-joining the Owls, who appear doomed to relegation next season, and Rohl's departure would surely spell the end of any potential deal, but if the club are somehow able to convince him to return, it could be their best piece of summer business.