Sheffield Wednesday star absent from squad after Millwall and Portsmouth transfer links

Millwall were reported to have seen a bid for Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Svante Ingelsson rejected by the Yorkshire outfit during the winter window as the Lions looked to strengthen in the centre of the park.

Alex Neil has had to deal with a long list of injuries to midfield stars this season, surviving without a fully fit recognised central-midfielder at times over the first half of the campaign. Millwall successfully recruited Sheffield Wednesday stalwart Barry Bannan last month but were also credited with interest in Ingelsson.

The Lions were reported to have seen a £300,000 bid for the player rejected with Championship rivals Portsmouth also having a bid rebuffed. West Brom then registered interest on Deadline Day but a £500,000 enquiry was not enough to tempt the Owls to sell.

Millwall and Portsmouth fail with Svante Ingelsson bids

The transfer saga appeared to have been immediately put to bed when Ingelsson played the full 90 minutes in the midweek 1-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Blackburn Rovers. However, heads were turned when the player was absent from the squad to take on Swansea City today.

It’s only the second time that the midfielder has missed out this season, the first coming against QPR in January due to illness. The player’s exclusion from the squad came in the same week that The News carried reports of continued Portsmouth interest in the player ahead of his contract’s expiry in the summer.

Ingelsson absence for Sheffield Wednesday explained

Sheffield Wednesday do hold the option for an extra year but whether or not they take that amid inevitable relegation to League One remains to be seen. Providing clarity on the situation, The Star reporter Alex Miller wrote on social media platform X: “Gather Svante Ingelsson misses out today for personal reasons - not transfer related. As reported, Yan Valery not around as he sets about completing loan switch to Young Boys.”

BBC Radio Sheffield reporter Rob Staton last week reflected on the transfer window for Sheffield Wednesday and looked into the club’s fight to keep hold of Ingelsson in the face of bids, which would have been tempting from a financial standpoint.

He wrote: “I also think Ingelsson is an important player to keep. Throughout this miserable season, the Swede hasn't stopped running. In a lost cause, his commitment has been admirable. He's also a good player – one who the club can rebuild around next season if things are sorted off the pitch.

“I'd argue that of all the players to keep – he was the one. He's well liked by some other Championship clubs. He's a key asset. He's a good age at 27. He can play multiple positions. It's to Wednesday's enormous benefit that he stayed. They'll need players like this.”

In other news, QPR, Millwall and Charlton Athletic handed huge boost as Championship club hit with points deduction.