Sheffield Wednesday eye Leicester’s Will Alves as Aston Villa slip

Sheffield Wednesday must replace the creative spark they lost when Tommi O'Reilly chose Notts County, and the club now eyes Leicester City’s Will Alves as a like‑for‑like solution after Aston Villa’s youngster slipped away. The Owls are eager to secure a technically gifted attacking midfielder to sustain their promotion push in League One.

Following a recent takeover, Sheffield Wednesday have assembled a squad that many believe can challenge for the top of League One. The club’s aggressive market activity reflects its ambition to bounce back to the Championship at the first attempt. Their recruitment drive includes twelve signings already confirmed.

Leicester City, having suffered an unprecedented drop to the third tier, have declared promotion as their primary objective for 2026/27. The Foxes retain financial resources that exceed most rivals in the division, positioning them as a formidable opponent for Wednesday.

Directly strengthening a rival complicates transfer negotiations, especially when both clubs target the same automatic promotion spots. Nevertheless, footballing realities sometimes outweigh competitive concerns if a player’s minutes are limited.

Sheffield Wednesday’s pursuit of Aston Villa’s Tommi O'Reilly was thwarted when Notts County secured the midfielder. The Owls now must identify another creative option to fill the vacancy.

Will Alves, a technically gifted attacking midfielder from Leicester, matches O'Reilly’s profile with the ability to operate between the lines and as a winger. He remains one of Leicester’s brightest young talents, but his pathway to the first team is becoming increasingly congested.

Alves spent a loan spell at Huddersfield Town, scoring two goals in fifteen appearances. His performances demonstrated the capacity to influence senior‑level games.

A loan move to Sheffield Wednesday could provide Alves with regular senior football, aligning with the Owls’ need for creativity. Leicester may hesitate to aid a direct promotion rival, yet allowing a top prospect to stagnate offers little benefit.

If Leicester shows willingness, Wednesday should act swiftly to negotiate, as missing one highly‑rated youngster does not have to define their summer. The club still seeks additional signings, such as a defensive‑minded midfielder and a forward, to complete their squad.

Action Images By  Adam Elliott Published Aug 8, 2026, 7:45 AM GMT+1 Adam is an EFL journalist for Football League World. Having initially worked for sister site LeedsAllOver, he began working for FLW in the summer of 2023. He also co‑hosts the All Stats Aren't We podcast.

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