Sunderland appear set to beat Sheffield Wednesday to signing of winger following Leeds United exit
After over four years on the books at Elland Road, Poveda will depart upon the expiry of his contract this summer. He ended the 2023/24 season out on loan, dazzling for Wednesday to help keep the club in the Championship.
Now available as a free agent, reports have suggested Poveda is wanted by Wednesday on a permanent basis. However, it appears they are not the only interested party.
According to reporter Darren Witcoop, there is interest in the 24-year-old from Luton Town, West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City among others. A move to the Baggies would reunite him with Carlos Corberan, who he worked with briefly at Leeds.
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Poveda is undeniably talented and was tipped for stardom in his early days as a prospect at Manchester City. There was also excitement when he joined Leeds in January 2020, with many of the belief Marcelo Bielsa could unlock his potential.
Despite some bright cameos early on, Poveda fell down the pecking order at Leeds and was loaned out to Blackburn Rovers and Blackpool. He returned to the fold under Daniel Farke but was used mostly as an impact substitute.
Wednesday secured his services on the final day of the winter window, striking a loan deal despite a permanent switch initially been mooted. He made 10 appearances for the Owls, winning the affection of the Hillsborough faithful with his flair and guile.
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Ian Poveda made 10 appearances on loan with Wednesday last season having arrived in a deadline day loan switch from Leeds United. The now 24-year-old made an impact in his Owls half-season but saw his time with the club decimated by hamstring issues.
Speaking earlier this week, Wednesday manager Danny Röhl made clear the club were not close to an agreement with the Colombia international despite having entered formal talks some weeks ago. Poveda left Elland Road at the end of his contract at the turn of the month and his status as a free agent meant he was always likely to attract a great deal of interest this summer. Röhl cited issues at the ‘player and agent’ end of negotiations in explaining why a deal had not drawn close.
Reports that Poveda was of interest to Sunderland intensified this week and now an image posted on social media appears to have all-but confirmed his switch to the North East club – should it prove to be genuine. Posted on Wednesday morning, images appear to show Poveda posing for unveiling photographs outside Sunderland’s Academy of Light training ground, dressed in a Sunderland shirt and holding a red and white scarf.
“On the one side we have interest from the club and what we want to do, but then there is the player’s side and the agent’s side,” Röhl said on Poveda’s Wednesday situation earlier this week. “There must be a match and maybe there are some things that are maybe not a match and so it is different. In my mind Ian Poveda is not under contract, we will look in the end where he is and what we can do, but it must be a decision together.”
Wednesday have moved to bring in nine players in a busy transfer window so far, including attacking figures Jamal Lowe, Olaf Kobacki and Charlie McNeill.
