James Beadle latest as Sheffield Wednesday hone in on another goalkeeper

On Tuesday morning BBC Sheffield broke news of Hamer’s potential signing at S6, suggesting the ex-Huddersfield Town stopper was ‘set to join’ the club as he approaches the end of his time at Watford. The Star understands a deal is indeed moving forward. The 36-year-old would bring experience of 292 EFL outings to Hillsborough upon the completion of a free transfer deal.

He has history with at least two of Wednesday’s existing coaching staff having come through the Reading youth system with goalkeeping coach Sal Bibbo before playing under Owls assistant coach Chris Powell at Charlton Athletic, where the pair won the League One title in the 2011/12 season.

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With official word yet to come on the future of academy graduate Cameron Dawson, who was offered a contract renewal at S6 with his current deal set to run out at the end of the month, news on Hamer has sparked fan speculation with regard to Wednesday’s goalkeeping situation and whether a planned move for England youth international James Beadle remained a possibility.

The Star understands that Wednesday are still very much in talks with Brighton & Hove Albion over a return for Beadle, who kept eight clean sheets in his 24 Owls appearances after joining on loan from the Seagulls in January. It appears Danny Röhl sees the England youth international as his preferred number one heading into the new campaign, with Brighton believed to be keen to get the 19-year-old out on another loan.

Beadle spoke glowingly on his time spent at Hillsborough last season and has a positive working relationship with Bibbo, who he spent time under at his parent club. Röhl spoke a number of times towards the end of their surival campaign about the strides the youngster had taken at S6.

It all paints an uncertain picture with regard to Dawson’s future. The boyhood Wednesdayite is coming to the end of a long contract signed during Garry Monk’s reign in charge and has tasted the highs and lows of life as an Owls goalkeeper throughout his 129 game career with the club. Interest from League One has been reported in Dawson, who made 20 appearances across all competitions as he faced competition from loanees Devis Vasquez and Beadle himself.