Sheffield Wednesday are set to ‘explore’ a permanent deal for Mark McGuinness, according to journalist Alex Miller.

The Lowdown: Instant impact

The League One side signed the defender on a season-long loan from Cardiff City over the summer where he has enjoyed a mightily impressive start to life at Hillsborough.

The Republic of Ireland youth international has a contract with the Bluebirds that runs until 2024 so it will be difficult to prise him away for good, but it sounds like Darren Moore is more than ready to give it a go.

The Latest: Miller’s ‘ambitious’ update

Taking to Twitter, Miller shared the exciting news that Wednesday will enter negotiations with the Welsh club to see if an agreement can be reached, though it won’t prove easy to get over the line. He wrote:

“Sheffield Wednesday will explore the possibility of a permanent move for Mark McGuinness.

“Would be an ambitious move. The in-form centre-half is under contract at Cardiff until the summer of 2024 at least.”

The Verdict: Get it done…

Moore will know how much of a significant impact McGuinness has made since his arrival, so securing his services for the long term is a no-brainer of a decision.

The 6 foot 3 colossus currently averages 4.4 aerial wins and 2.1 clearances per league 90 minutes, not to mention he also has a goal to his name showing he can be a threat at both ends of the pitch (WhoScored).

The Owls are firmly in the race for promotion this season, and should they make a return to the Championship, they will be hoping to have McGuinness still with them for their next chapter.