Sheffield Wednesday to stand firm despite West Ham interest in ‘incredible’ star

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With Danny Rohl finally leaving Sheffield Wednesday, one of his key players from last season is wanted by Premier League giants West Ham United.

Amid the ongoing financial crisis at Sheffield Wednesday, overseen by owner Dejphon Chansiri, several high-profile figures have departed the club this summer.

Forward duo Josh Windass and Michael Smith terminated their contracts, and have moved to Wrexham and Preston North End respectively.

On Monday, Callum Paterson signed for MK Dons after his Owls exit, joining Djeidi Gassama and Anthony Musaba out of the Hillsborough exit doors.

The summer exodus at the Owls continued after it emerged on Tuesday that Danny Rohl will leave Sheffield Wednesday officially, with his departure expected for some time.

Now, Premier League giants West Ham United are “very keen” on signing one Sheffield Wednesday star who Rohl labelled as “incredible” last season.

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West Ham United want to sign Pierce Charles from Sheffield Wednesday

With the summer exodus from Sheffield Wednesday in full swing, the latest Owls star to be linked with a move away is goalkeeper Pierce Charles.

The 20-year-old shot-stopper became Rohl’s number one towards the end of the 2024/25 season, having only made his senior Owls debut in March, going on to make 13 appearances in all competitions.

In late March, Rohl told Sheffield Wednesday’s website about Charles: “We have two incredible young goalkeepers. I think James Beadle (on loan from Brighton) deserves big credit.

“We also have a young goalkeeper who is ours and he’s now the number one for his national team, he worked very hard and he deserves it as well.”

Interest in the Northern Ireland international has been rife throughout the summer transfer window, as EFL Analysis exclusively revealed in April that Tottenham were among the Premier League sides tracking Charles.

Now, West Ham have joined the race to sign Charles. Sheffield Star reporter Joe Crann revealed: “Sheffield Wednesday’s resolve to keep Pierce Charles may be tested, with West Ham United believed to be very keen on the youngster.

“West Ham are considering making a move to try and sign the Northern Ireland international, however are expected to be met by a reluctance to sell from the Owls, who not only see Charles as this season’s number one, but also a player that could grow exponentially in value.”

After the top flight interest in his services emerged this summer, in June, Charles said he wants to stay at Sheffield Wednesday and that there was “nothing that could make him leave at that point’.

However, as we’ve seen all summer long in S6, the unthinkable could occur, as the Hammers turn to Charles after being stung by the Owls’ steel city rivals, Sheffield United.

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West Ham want Pierce Charles after Sheffield United set Michael Cooper price tag

The Hammers are no strangers to shopping for signings in the second tier this summer, after it emerged last month that West Ham tracked Sydie Peck and Hayden Hackney, from the Blades and Middlesbrough respectively.

Following that, West Ham want to sign Mads Hermansen from Leicester City and are poised to bid for the Foxes goalkeeper, at the same time registering interest in Sheffield United’s keeper Michael Cooper.

Selles tried to ease fears over a Cooper sale before it transpired that West Ham have placed the shot-stopper on a lengthy list of potential targets between the sticks.

However, after Sheffield United set a £15m price tag on Cooper, it would appear that the Hammers have turned to Owls keeper Charles as a potentially more financially feasible option.

Hermansen and Cooper would be exceptional purchases for the coming season for West Ham, with 20-year-old Charles seen as a top flight keeper for the future.

If the Owls are to have any chance of survival next season, in what could be the best Championship season yet, Sheffield Wednesday must continue to stand firm and rebuff the Hammers’ pursuit of Charles this summer.