Rangers and Celtic joined by two EFL clubs in growing transfer race for Sheffield Wednesday star

Rangers and Celtic have been joined by two more clubs in the race to sign a Sheffield Wednesday star this summer.

Pierce Charles has been linked with an Ibrox switch for some time, with a clear connection to Rangers head coach Danny Rohl, who he worked with at Hillsborough. Celtic links meanwhile have emerged this month with Kasper Schmeichel’s Hoops career seemingly at an end through a shoulder injury and Viljami Sinisalo has since assumed the number one spot. They aren’t the only clubs on the scene, however.

Many clubs in England have been linked and two more have emerged after Charles’ form in a difficult season for Sheffield Wednesday, who have been relegated from the Championship, amid financial issues sending them into League One. Cardiff City will return to the second tier from League One and reportedly like the look of Charles while QPR could offer another Championship route.

Who wants to sign Pierce Charles this summer?

Amid Rangers and Celtic rumours, it’s noted by Football League World that the competition to sign the Owls shot-stopper who has also featured for Northern Ireland, is growing thick. They claim: “QPR and Cardiff City are both poised to enter the market in search of a new goalkeeper ahead of the 2026/27 Championship campaign, with the summer transfer window now swiftly approaching.

“Ahead of the upcoming summer window, Football League World can exclusively reveal that both QPR and Cardiff have identified impressive Sheffield Wednesday shot-stopper Pierce Charles as a transfer target in an effort to bolster their respective goalkeeping options. Sources have disclosed to FLW that the Hoops and the Bluebirds have now joined the race for Charles, who could be primed to leave Hillsborough this summer as the Owls prepare for life in League One after suffering relegation all the way back in February.

“His performances in blue-and-white have often caught the eye, combining shrewd reflexes and the sort of authority which belies his youthful years with sleek distribution qualities. Exactly how plausible a deal actually is for either side to broker remains to be seen, however, with Charles having earned no shortage of suitors in recent times.

What are Rangers and Celtic goalkeeper options like?

“Charles will, of course, be aware that regular game-time may be more available by remaining in the Championship with either QPR or Cardiff, who are both pursuing goalkeepers heading into the summer months. However, the pair will face extremely stiff competition to land the prodigious' keeper's services and may quickly have to set their sights elsewhere if the likes of Celtic, Rangers or other interested parties advance their own interest.”

The clearer path to first team football in Glasgow would appear at Celtic. Butland is firmly the number one at Rangers with Liam Kelly a reliable deputy behind him. Sinisalo meanwhile is backed up by Ross Doohan, before youth options are then required, and the current number one is in an audition phase for the role on a longer-term basis.

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