Sheffield Wednesday have been linked with Sunderland’s George Honeyman.
According to a recent report in the Sunday written edition of The Sun (page 63), Sheffield Wednesday are eyeing a summer move for Sunderland’s attacking midfielder George Honeyman.
The Black Cats’ recent relegation, confirmed by their disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Burton Albion, has seemingly alerted several clubs to the availability of some of their better players.
Honeyman, a 23-year-old attacking midfielder, falls into that category and it will come as a great surprise if he remains at the Stadium of Light for next season’s campaign in League One.
It is understood the Sunderland academy product is keen on making a swift return to a Championship club this summer, and Wednesday, given their size and stature, would represent a fine opportunity for the player.
But would the player represent a fine opportunity for the club? Honeyman is the exact type of player the Owls need as he predominantly looks to push between the lines and support the attack.
In Barry Bannan and Kieren Lee, Wednesday have two decent Championship midfielders who are both comfortable on the ball, but nether are the mobile type to regularly break into the box and score key goals.
Lee, 29, posted his best ever campaign in 2015/16 with six goals and three assists, while Bannan, 28, managed one goal and eight assists in his most productive campaign last season.
Neither are particularly outstanding, especially when you compare to say Aston Villa’s Conor Hourihane who has 11 goals and two assists or Fulham’s Tom Cairney who last season recorded 13 goals and 10 assists.
Wednesday’s George Boyd and David Jones are also getting on too, therefore a young attack-minded midfielder in the mould of Honeyman is exactly what they need, but there are question marks over his ability.
Honeyman has just six goals and two assists to his name this term, albeit playing in a poor Sunderland side, and he’s a player who only averages 1.1 shots, 1.1 key passes and 1.2 successful take-ons per game (Whoscored).
It would be a risk to spend a chunk of their summer budget on the Sunderland man, and with boss Jos Luhukay’s connections, they may be able to find a more promising player abroad from either Holland or Germany.
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