West Brom and Stoke City plot move to sign Sheffield Wednesday star Barry Bannan | OneFootball

The veteran midfielder's contract with the Owls is set to expire at the end of this month.

Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion have joined Wrexham in the battle to sign Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Barry Bannan this summer.

Even amid all the chaos that is going on at Hillsborough, it was reported that the Scottish captain of the Owls was looking likely to stick around.

Things are slowly getting worse for Wednesday. Should their players not receive this month's wages on time, following last month's missed payments, a number of which are yet to be received, notices to terminate contracts could be handed to the club, leaving them in even more mess than they are currently in.

Bannan was one of three players that Danny Rohl's side offered new deals to this summer. None of him Akin Famewo or Callum Paterson have committed to Wednesday yet, or any other club for that matter, but the midfielder always felt the most likely to stay. Interest is building, however, with two of their league rivals now reportedly joining the race for the 35-year-old.

Stoke and West Brom join Barry Bannan signature race

Stoke and West Brom are interested in signing Bannan, according to Fraser Fletcher, alongside Championship newcomers Wrexham.

The Red Dragons' interest in him had been previously published by The Sun, who also claim that Phil Parkinson's side are interested in Stuart Armstrong, one of the players that Wednesday released. Now they face competition from Mark Robins' Potters and Ryan Mason's Baggies.

Even if the trio that Wednesday offered new deals were to agree to the terms presented to them in May, they may not be able to sign them. The three-window transfer ban that they have been handed could affect their ability to lockdown Bannan, Famewo and Paterson.

Barry Bannan move comes with its question marks

The Owls' captain would be a good signing for Stoke, West Brom or Wrexham, but he'd also be a costly one. Capology have estimated that the former Scottish international earned £24,000 per week last season, way above City and Albion's average weekly payout to its players.

All three teams have wealthy owners, but Bannan's wages may test their desire to bring him in.

Should they decide he is worth it, the question then becomes about the length of the deal they offer to him. It isn't known how many years the 35-year-old has been offered by Wednesday, but he isn't getting any younger.

With such a potentially big financial commitment required in order to get him, this could add more doubt in the minds of the division makers of the three second-tier sides.

What we do know is that Bannan had a strong season the last time we saw him, picking more goals and assists (10) than when Wednesday were relegated in the 2020/21 campaign, and when they got back up to the level two seasons ago.

The Hillsborough natives obviously back him to be able to at least come close to maintaining that level. Stoke, West Brom and Wrexham's