Sheffield Wednesday are reportedly eyeing a move for the highly-regarded Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Malick Yalcouyé, according to The Star. This young and exceptionally talented player, who was born in Mali, has thus far made only 14 appearances in European football. Yalcouyé made his professional debut earlier this year for Swedish top-flight team IFK Göteborg, but despite his limited experience, he has already garnered significant attention. Brighton & Hove Albion, recognizing his potential, invested a substantial £6 million to secure his services just last month.
As detailed by The Daily Star, Sheffield Wednesday are emerging as key contenders in the race to secure Yalcouyé on a season-long loan. Brighton, keen to see their promising young talent gain valuable first-team experience, are reportedly open to loaning him out. Alongside Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs such as Sheffield United and Luton Town are also showing interest in acquiring Yalcouyé’s services.
The Star has uncovered that Sheffield Wednesday have been monitoring Yalcouyé’s progress for a considerable period. Sources suggest that discussions regarding a potential loan move for the midfielder might have even commenced before Brighton’s transfer of Yalcouyé from IFK Göteborg was officially completed. This early interest and the alignment of Sheffield Wednesday’s style of play—partly inspired by Brighton’s possession-based approach—could give the Owls a competitive edge in securing the young star’s signature.
Yalcouyé, standing at just five-foot-seven, is an agile and energetic central midfielder, primarily operating in a defensive role as a number six. Sheffield Wednesday’s manager, Danny Röhl, is actively seeking to bolster his midfield options following the recent additions of Svante Ingelsson and Nathaniel Chalobah. The 18-year-old Yalcouyé, who will celebrate his 19th birthday in November, is reportedly high on Röhl’s list of potential targets to strengthen the squad.
Brighton & Hove Albion have built a reputation for scouting and developing promising young talent from lesser-known leagues, often selling them at a premium after a period of development. Sheffield Wednesday already have an established relationship with Brighton, having brought goalkeeper James Beadle back on loan this summer after a successful spell earlier in the year.
There are no regulatory concerns regarding the loan arrangement, as clubs are permitted to loan up to four players from a single club in a season, with the stipulation that only two of these can be over the age of 23. If a deal is finalized, Yalcouyé could potentially occupy the last available European slot in Sheffield Wednesday’s squad.
In a recent comment on potential transfers, Röhl said, “With the Premier League season starting next week, there will be opportunities in the market. The positive aspect is that we have assembled a very strong group, and now it is about finding the right pieces to complete our team. If we achieve this, we will have done an excellent job.”
