Valery and Inglesson to Follow Bannan as Wednesday Struggle for Replacements

Wednesday Want On Embargo End as Two More Linked Away

There has been very little for Sheffield Wednesday fans to cheer about this season - their sole win this season against Portsmouth came all the way back in mid-September, and worse still, the Owls have failed to find the back of the net in seven consecutive games.

And as if the 22-game hiatus since their last 90-minute victory wasn’t punishment enough, cult hero Barry Bannan is now days from leaving the club, having made 477 appearances for the club.

According to @AlexJPMiller Rangers are interested in Sheffield Wednesday Right Back Yan Valery as Danny Rohl looks to reunite with him 👀🔴⚪️🔵 but Welsh Side Wrexham are also looking at him pic.twitter.com/b3FVOQiHo7

— Jack Paton (@JackPaton98) January 22, 2026

These are truly dark times at Hillsborough, and they seem set to get worse, as key players Yan Valery and Svante Ingesson are now searching for their own escape routes from a side doomed for League One football next year.

Mass Exodus

Bannan’s departure was an eye-opening moment for Wednesday - when his move to Millwall is eventually confirmed later this week, it will be a moment of realisation that the club cannot be rescued this season.

Their well-publicised cash crisis was always going to make the season much more difficult, but as long as the club kept their key players around, there was the faintest glimmer of hope.

Now though, things are unravelling - not only is their midfielder core leaving, but former Southampton right-back Valery and centre-mid Inglesson are also looking to decide their futures, not wanting to drop down to a league below their own qualities.

Tunisian international Valery, who made 53 Premier League appearances for Southampton, is on the radars of Scottish giants Celtic, as well as Championship promotion hopefuls Wrexham and Millwall.

Meanwhile, Inglesson, who has been at the club for just a season and a half, is already looking for a route away from the club, with Portsmouth among a number of unnamed clubs interested in his signature.

Sheffield’s chief issue is that even with their appalling form removed from the equation, the combined market values of the two players sit at just £1.6 million, a measly figure even in the Championship.

When form is then added in, their woeful scoring record and 22-game winless streak mean that two of their last remaining senior players could see their values potentially cut in half, meaning that the club receive around £800,000.

🚨Understand Portsmouth are among the clubs interested in Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Svante Ingelsson.

Gather Owls have rejected a bid from Pompey.

Full story👇https://t.co/jPTO7EGq58#SWFC🦉

— Alex Miller (@AlexJPMiller) January 23, 2026

In dire need of funds, the Wednesday hierarchy need to bring the best negotiating skills to the table, as if they cannot get a fair price for either player, it would simply rub salt into the wound.

To make matters worse, the club are only allowed to sign free agents in a bid to replace them, as their calamitous financial situation renders them unable to pay any sort of transfer fee. Though they are waiting on the EFL to temporarily lift the embargo to allow them to sign capable replacements, it is unlikely they will be able to directly replace the influence of this senior trio.

There is a chance that Valery and Inglesson seal moves away but agree to remain at the club on an immediate return loan until the end of the season. However, given the unsaveable situation the club find themselves in, it is unlikely either of them want to remain at Hillsborough any longer than absolutely necessary.