Despite ongoing speculation that Owls captain and modern-day Hillsborough great Barry Bannan would leave Sheffield Wednesday, the midfielder is likely to play for Henrik Pedersen’s team against Bristol City on Saturday afternoon.

According to the Sheffield Star, the 36-year-old is attracting interest from some of Wednesday’s current Championship rivals, most notably play-off-chasing Millwall, who are managed by Bannan’s compatriot, Alex Neil.

The 2025/26 season has long been regarded as a write-off for the Owls, owing mostly to the club’s catastrophic financial situation in the closing weeks and months of Dejphon Chansiri’s already problematic ownership.

Despite a massive outpouring of emotion when the Thai businessman’s tenure as owner was ended by the club entering administration on October 24th, Wednesday fans have had little to celebrate since then, with the situation in the Hillsborough boardroom still unresolved as we approach the end of the current winter transfer window.

As a result, Pedersen has only been able to bring in Murphy Cooper and Jaden Heskey on loan from Queens Park Rangers and Manchester City since the beginning of 2026, with both transactions exclusively revealed by Football League World.

While speculation about a takeover by former professional poker player James Bord continues, Wednesday broke an unwelcome on-pitch club record in their 2-0 defeat to Birmingham City at Hillsborough on Tuesday, bringing their total to 21 matches without a win and a minus seven point lead with 19 games remaining.

Indeed, Bannan’s conduct as he was replaced by Jarvis Thornton in the final minute of normal time in S6 fueled the previously reported suspicions of a transfer.

While it is unclear whether the former Crystal Palace man will continue with the Owls or leave between now and February 2nd, such circumstances are not expected to arise ahead of this weekend’s game at Ashton Gate.

Sheffield Wednesday provided a short-term Barry Bannan boost amid Millwall transfer speculation.

With Wednesday still in disarray both on and off the pitch, losing Bannan would be the final straw for many of their fans, who has remained loyal to the Steel City outfit since joining on a free transfer from Selhurst Park in the summer of 2015 under Carlos Carvalhal.

The 27-time former Tartan Army international has seen it all in his nearly 11-year tenure at Hillsborough, including two failed Championship play-off campaigns, relegation to and promotion from League One, a ‘great escape’ under Danny Rohl, and three overall points deductions, with a combined 18-point deficit this term effectively sealing a second relegation to the third tier with roughly half of the season remaining.

Despite being out of contract at the end of last season, Bannan chose not to join the mass exodus of senior players and management at Hillsborough, instead signing a one-year contract extension for just £7,000 per week, despite being offered a much higher salary by both the Lions and Middlesbrough as they sought a low-cost deal for the veteran midfielder.

Although Pedersen has rested the Airdrie-born midfielder on a few times, Bannan has remained a steady presence in the Danish midfield, appearing in 29 games across all competitions this season.

He has also been a vital source of goals in Pedersen’s depleted squad, scoring three times and providing as many assists before it was announced that he had once again become the topic of transfer speculation.

Bannan is currently associated with Millwall the most, but rumors have also included Stoke City, Preston North End, and Motherwell, a Scottish Premiership team.

While the Owls’ captain’s future remains uncertain, he is scheduled to make his 477th appearance in blue and white when they meet Gerhard Struber’s play-off-chasing Robins in the West Country this weekend.

Henrik Pedersen comments on the unclear Barry Bannan, Sheffield Wednesday situation.

Unsurprisingly, the aforementioned rumor has dominated debate among Wednesday supporters, with Pedersen commenting on the subject during his pre-match press conference.

“I communicate with Barry every day, and we all know how much he loves Sheffield Wednesday. I can only say what I told him: I hope he stays. “We’ll see what happens at the next stage, but I hope he stays,” the Owls manager stated.Of course it’s difficult. I know he would like to stay, but the situation is extremely challenging. I appreciate every single player on the team, and I have enormous regard for Barry.”

It remains to be seen what occurs between now and the deadline, but there is no denying that a split between Wednesday and Bannan would be incredibly difficult for everyone involved.