Sheffield Wednesday eyeing up move for Newcastle outcast Grant Hanley

Championship outfit Sheffield Wednesday are targeting a summer move for Newcastle United outcast Grant Hanley, according to The Star.

The 25-year-old defender only moved to St James’ Park last year following six years at Blackburn Rovers, in which time he played 200 games for the Lancashire-based club, 31 of which coming in the Premier League.

And although he started Newcastle’s first game of the Championship season away at Fulham, the remainder of the campaign only yielded four more starts for the Scotland international, and with Ciaran Clark and Jamaal Lascelles striking up quite a partnership in the centre of defence, he’s unlikely to force himself in Rafa Benitez’s reckoning next term.

And his unclear future at the North East giants appears to have attracted interest from Carlos Carvalhal’s Sheffield Wednesday, who are reportedly targeting a move for the centre-back this summer as they also look to return to the Premier League.

The Owls suffered another play-off heartbreak last season by going down on penalties to eventual winners Huddersfield in the semi-final, a year after losing at Wembley to Hull in the showpiece, and Carvalhal will surely be looking at what he can do to help get the club over the line next season.

And bringing in Premier League experience like Hanley, as well as a member of Newcastle’s title-winning squad, looks to be a step in the right direction, and with the 25-year-old reportedly free to leave the club, it’s a deal Wednesday must look to seal in the coming weeks and months.