Bjarnason’s departure for Aston Villa has left a void at his previous club, which could be filled by the struggling Sheffield Wednesday man.
Reports in Switzerland last week named Sheffield Wednesday’s Almen Abdi as a shock target for FC Basel.
And after the Swiss champions sold attacking midfielder Birkir Bjarnason to Aston Villa on Wednesday, should the Owls expect a bid for their struggling number seven?
Abdi’s Hillsborough career has not gone to plan so far, despite his £4 million arrival from Watford looking like one of the division’s best summer buys on paper.
Sheffield Wednesday’s Almen Abdi reacts after hitting the bar against Leeds United
And with Wednesday thought to be after another central midfield player to replace the injured Kieran Lee, it is possible the Owls could be tempted into a sale, providing they can secure a replacement first – although that could be easier said than done, with the target they are thought to have lined up, Barnsley captain Conor Hourihane, also seemingly bound for Aston Villa.
Barnsley’s Conor Hourihane could follow teammate James Bree to Aston Villa
In reality, Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal would perhaps prefer to keep Abdi regardless, given the lack of emergency loan window to bail him out in the season’s closing stages, although a chance to get back somewhere close the money they paid for a now 30-year-old footballer could be hard to ignore.
One thing is almost certain, however: if Abdi does stay put, he won’t ever get a better to impress the Hillsborough faithful, with Lee’s campaign all but written off.
Will Abdi ever come good at Wednesday?
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