Man United and Liverpool in £450k bid for Sheffield Wednesday teen Yisa Alao
Crisis-hit Owls face transfer interest as Premier League clubs eye promising left back amid administration and points deductions.
Manchester United and Liverpool have both shown interest in Yisa Alao, a 17-year-old left back at Sheffield Wednesday, as the Championship club faces financial turmoil and the possibility of an early sale. United are reported to have lodged a bid around £450,000, with Liverpool weighing a similar offer for a defender who has yet to sign a professional contract and remains eligible to move this season. The teenager has impressed scouts from top-flight clubs and has been fast-tracked toward first-team duties amid Wednesday’s broader financial crisis.
Alao, born in Doncaster, has risen through Wednesday's academy ranks and earned a first-team outing in August in the Carabao Cup at age 16. He made his league debut earlier this month, coming on as a late substitute in a 0–3 defeat to Derby County, replacing Harry Amass, who is on loan from Manchester United. His rapid progression has put him on the radar of several Premier League clubs, with both United and Liverpool monitoring developments closely.
Wednesday, already struggling on the field, are embedded in a broader crisis off it. The Owls remain rooted to the bottom of the Championship table on minus nine points after a 12-point deduction for entering administration in October and a further six-point penalty for regulation breaches. They sit 29 points behind 21st-placed Portsmouth, signaling a long road to safety even if a sale or rescue plan progresses. The club are also pursuing a professional contract for Alao's teammate Will Grainger, a teenage striker who has attracted interest from several top-tier clubs, underscoring the dual pressure of on-field performance and off-field uncertainty.
With Wednesday seeking new ownership while navigating administration, parent club status and potential departures, the transfer interest in Alao reflects a broader pattern of Premier League clubs scanning lower-league academies for emerging talents who could be integrated quickly should a deal materialize. Other clubs are waiting in the wings, monitoring whether Wednesday’s ownership situation stabilizes and whether Alao’s contractual status becomes immediately actionable. As the winter window evolves, the situation at Hillsborough could influence not only Alao’s future but the club’s ability to rebuild on and off the pitch, depending on the pace and outcome of any potential sale.