Premier League side Southampton and Stoke City are tracking Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Keiren Westwood as the Irishman nears the exit door at Hillsborough, according to The Daily Mail.
The shot stopper was left out of Tuesday’s pre-season friendly with Mansfield Town, with manager Jos Luhukay signalling a knee injury as the reason for his exclusion.
However, the former Coventry City man took to social media to quickly dispel those rumours, saying: ‘I missed one training session last Thursday. I’m not injured and haven’t been all pre-season.”
🤔💭I missed 1 training session last Thursday.I’m not injured and haven’t been all preseason. Thanks to everyone who messaged me with concern but I’m grand 🙂 Missing one training session since the 18th June proves I’m 100% not injured 👍🏻 I’m Stronger&Fitter than iv ever been! https://t.co/wosPLF6Jzv
— Keiren Westwood (@WestwoodKeiren) July 25, 2018
It has been reported that the Owls are keen to offload Westwood in order to reduce their wage bill this summer.
The 33 year old has spent four years at the Yorkshire club since his arrival from Sunderland in 2014.
He has struggled with injuries at times during his stint with the Owls, but has firmly established himself as one of the Championship’s best goalkeepers over the past few seasons.
He has made 133 appearances for Wednesday, but he could have played his last game in between the sticks for Luhakay’s side.
He is no stranger to playing in the top flight of English football as he made 19 appearances for Sunderland during the Black Cats time in the Premier League.
Southampton have recently signed former Manchester City goalkeeper Angus Gunn and have also tied Alex McCarthy down to a new deal at St Mary’s.
Therefore, Westwood would become second or third choice on the South Coast.
Stoke are preparing for life in the Championship and the future of Jack Butland is still up in the air.
Westwood could become the England internationals replacement, should he leave the Bet365 Stadium.
The goalkeepers career at Sheffield Wednesday appears to be nearing an end, and he wont be short if interest this transfer window.
