The midfielder has barely featured since leaving Leeds United for Bournemouth last summer and would be a sound replacement for Kieran Lee at Sheffield Wednesday.
For Sheffield Wednesday fans, it’s the recurring nightmare that’s set to last the rest of the campaign: What if is us and Leeds United at Wembley?
The Championship table currently shows Leeds three points and two places better off than their rivals from South Yorkshire and even the most ardent of Owls fans would struggle to argue with that.
Although sixth with 54 points still to play for, Wednesday, as a club, will know they have not been up to scratch so far, and three signings already in January – with perhaps a couple more to come – is evidence of that.
But there is one player in particular who could help bridge the gap between the Owls and Leeds United – and send the latter’s fanbase into meltdown to boot.
Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook (right) in action with Valencia’s Enzo Perez
Whites-raised Lewis Cook left his boyhood club for Bournemouth in July, but has struggled for games even when he’s not been injured, and could perhaps benefit from half a season back in the Championship on loan.
A club with genuine promotion aspirations would be ideal, and with Leeds’ midfield seemingly full, it is unlikely that an approach from Elland Road would materialise should Cook be made available.
Wednesday, though, are in the market for a new central midfielder, having lost Kieran Lee to a potentially season-ending hip injury and failed to land the Aston Villa-bound Conor Hourihane.
Owls boss Carlos Carvalhal insists he is happy with his squad, but implied his side still could be active in this month’s transfer window should a player of real quality become available.
Cook certainly fits that bracket. Though younger than most recent Hillsborough recruits – he remains a teenager until next Friday – the York-born starlet already has two full seasons of Championship experience under his belt, and was crowned Football League Young Player of the Year in 2016.
Leeds United’s Lewis Cook
Not only would his capture add some much needed energy to Wednesday’s midfield – it just might galvanise the club as a whole.
And who knows what impact it could have on the promotion battle overall.
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