George Hirst is not playing at all for Sheffield Wednesday currently as his contract dispute rumbles on.
Carlos Carvalhal, manager of Sheffield Wednesday, looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match against Bolton Wanderers.
Sheffield Wednesday manager Carlos Carvalhal revealed ahead of the weekend clash with Barnsley that the reason promising youngster George Hirst is not playing is because of his contract negotiations.
The Sheffield Star reports that Hirst could leave Hillsborough when his current deal expires next summer after talks between his representatives and the club broke down.
Niclas Thiede of Germany and George Hirst of England compete for the ball during the U19 International match.
“He’s not a player who is involved with us,” Carvalhal said. “I’m the manager of the club but I’m not a person to do contracts and to talk about these things. It is something that is completely out of my orbit.
“It is not something in my hands so I can’t give an opinion about it.”
Hirst is considered to be one of the most exciting young talents in the country and finished as joint topscorer at the Under-20s Toulon Tournament this year after netting four goals in five games as England won the trophy.
The 18-year-old’s reputation has caught the eye of both Everton and Leicester City in the near past, but both Premier League sides have had bids rejected – the largest being £2m from the Foxes – because Wednesday believe they would receive more in compensation if the teenager left on a free transfer.
Rules state that if player aged under 24 leaves a club for free then a fee must be agreed between the two parties, or decided at an independent tribunal if no agreement is met.
Which is a possibility that is looking more and more likely for Hirst, who is not playing in either the Owls’ first team or development squad currently because of the contract dispute – something which has split the fans’ opinions.
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