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Weaver on Sheffield Wednesday's list of targets to replace Grant
SHEFFIELD Wednesday manager Alan Irvine has confirmed his interest in former Manchester City goalkeeper Nicky Weaver.
Irvine needs a replacement for Lee Grant who has joined Championship club Burnley in a 1m deal.
Weaver, who played on loan for the Owls five years ago, is a free agent and, as revealed in last week's Yorkshire Post, is keen to return to Hillsborough.
Any deal, however, will have to wait until the Football League lifts a temporary transfer embargo imposed on the Owls pending payment of an overdue tax bill.
"We need a goalkeeper who will not cost us any money in loan fees," admitted Irvine last night. "Nicky Weaver is on my list but we have not spoken to any player at this stage or agreed terms."
Grant was paraded at Turf Moor yesterday but Burnley manager Brian Laws insisted that his existing first-choice goalkeeper Brian Jensen, 35, would start the new season.
"Brian is going to have some competition next season and I'm sure he'll relish that," said Laws. "He has obviously been here a long time and I am expecting him to start the season. It's his shirt to lose but it's all about competition and we have that now.
"Lee knows the score and he's very confident in his own ability," Laws added. "The difference between them is that Lee has his best years ahead of him."
Owls manager Irvine, meanwhile, believes that winger Jermaine Johnson has not been unsettled by the club's decision to reject a 350,000 bid from Nottingham Forest.
The Jamaican international has another 12 months left on his contract with the Owls and has not expressed a desire to leave.
"Full marks to Jermaine, he has not come banging on the door since the offer was rejected and I am delighted about that," said Irvine. "It would be wrong of any player to try and create a situation."
The Owls are due in the High Court on August 11 after being served with a winding up order by HM Revenue and Customs over 550,000 in unpaid PAYE, National Insurance and VAT.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 11 February 2012
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