Sheffield Wednesday are poised to move on Charlie McNeill, with Crewe Alexandra set to sign the attacker on loan for the season.
The former Manchester United man was called upon regularly last season by Henrik Pedersen, playing in 40 of the Owls’ Championship games as they battled valiantly amid a tumultuous season overshadowed by off-field issues.
League Two Side Make Move
However, with days to go before their League One season opener, Sheffield Wednesday have now opted to let McNeill leave Hillsborough on a temporary basis, with Joe Crann reporting on his Wednesday Word Substack that Crewe Alexandra are set to sign him.
He heads to Cheshire as a likely replacement to Tommi O’Reilly in Lee Bell’s plans, with the Aston Villa youngster still yet to sign for any club despite reports that he was set to move to the Owls in July.
Wednesday signed McNeill as a free agent in 2024 following his exit from Manchester United, and he had EFL experience with both Stevenage and Newport County prior to his move to South Yorkshire.
Alexandra are set to get their League Two campaign underway against Crawley Town at the weekend, and have already made steps to improve their wide options with a free transfer deal for Doncaster Rovers’ Jordan Gibson.
Railwaymen Get Key Pickup
After losing Tommi O’Reilly following an amazing campaign on loan, Crewe Alexandra have been in need of a versatile attacking threat, and with Charlie McNeill they will be hopeful that lightning can strike twice.
Having been stuck in a floundering Sheffield Wednesday team up against it for the whole of last season, he now heads out to League Two, hoping he can return to the form he showed for Newport County during his Manchester United days.
Able to play centrally, up front or even on the right-hand side, he makes for an ideal option wherever Lee Bell requires him to play, and if he can return to some level of confidence, he could be a key player for the Railwaymen.
Questions Arise For Wednesday
However, with not long to go until their season gets underway, Sheffield Wednesday have opted to sanction an attacker exit at a time when they arguably need to have more options available to them.
That is particularly true in their wide areas, and with a deal for Tommi O’Reilly evaporating, Henrik Pedersen needs to find someone who can act as a deputy for Louie Barry and Harry Gray among others.
That makes the move to let Charlie McNeill leave slightly questionable, as he surely should have remained until a suitable player could be signed before shipping him out.
But with his minutes sure to be limited if he remained, it is nevertheless the correct decision and allows the club to assess his performances before his contract expires next summer.
