284-game Leeds United legend targeted by Sheffield Wednesday after entering administration
The former Leeds United defender has been tipped for a return to the Champioship.
Crisis-ridden Sheffield Wednesday have been given fresh hope of signing former Leeds United captain Liam Cooper after entering administration last month.
Wednesday were placed into administration on October 24 and handed an immediate 12-point deduction, with months of financial turmoil leading to the EFL enforcing multiple transfer embargos. As things stand, the Championship strugglers can’t even sign free agents which had quashed hope of landing unattached target Cooper.
The former Leeds defender was initially linked with a move to Hillsborough in August after leaving Bulgarian outfit CSKA Sofia, where he spent just one season, but that fell through after cashflow problems prevented any new arrivals. However the situation in South Yorkshire could soon change and according to The Star, Cooper remains a prime target.
“There’s a possibility [of lifting the embargo],” Wednesday joint-administrator Kris Wigfield told BBC Sheffield. ”We are looking to give the manager as much help as we possibly can.
“We’ve had conversations with the EFL and there are some hurdles to get through with FIFA and with the EFL. No promises at this stage, but we’re hopeful we can get one or two more players in for after the international break.”
Should the EFL allow Wednesday to sign free agents, The Star reports that Cooper remains right at the top of their shopping list having been without a club since leaving CSKA Sofia in July. The 34-year-old would provide bags of Championship experience to an otherwise young group, having guided Leeds to the second-tier title under Marcelo Bielsa in 2020.
Liam Cooper would add experience to Sheffield Wednesday
Joining from Chesterfield in 2014, Cooper racked up an incredible 284 appearances across all competitions in what was a near-10 year career at Elland Road. The Scotland international captained Leeds to the Championship title and through three years in the Premier League before relegation in 2023. He left West Yorkshire upon the expiration of his contract in 2024 after falling out of favour under Daniel Farke.
Wednesday entering into administration effectively ended owner Dejphon Chansiri's ill-fated spell in charge but the reaction among fans was largely positive, with hope of a fresh start. Fans had boycotted games, including their Carabao Cup first-round win over Leeds in August, but flocked back to Hillsborough late last month.
The Owls were already bottom of the Championship at the time and a 12-point deduction leaves them on -6 points, with relegation to League One looking very likely. It remains to be seen if they pursue Cooper once an embargo is lifted but the one-time Premier League defender could be playing in the third-tier next year, if a contract longer than a few months is signed.
Cooper does have experience playing in League One, having spent time on loan at Carlisle United and Huddersfield Town during his early years as a Hull City player. He also played one game in the third-tier for Chesterfield before Leeds snapped him up in 2014.