Laws prepares return to Sheffield Wednesday to snatch away Grant

Laws, who landed the Burnley job after being sacked by the Owls last season, wants Grant in a 1m deal but is likely to face competition from West Bromwich Albion and Preston North End.

The Owls insist there have been no firm offers for the former England Under-21 international who still has two years remaining on his contract at Hillsborough.

Sources in Lancashire, however, claim that Laws has made his long anticipated move for a player who he signed from Derby County during his reign at Hillsborough.

As reported, Owls manager Alan Irvine is under no pressure to sell prize assets because the club have been promised an additional 3m by their major creditors the Co-Operative Bank.

But Irvine also knows that it will be difficult to stand in the way of any player who has an opportunity to play at a higher level.

Grant, now 27, played on loan for Burnley five years ago after losing his place in the first team at Derby.

Since joining Wednesday in July 2007, he has enhanced his reputation as one of the best goalkeepers outside the Premier League and might view a move to Championship side Burnley as a possible stepping stone back to the top flight.

Former Rotherham United and Sheffield Wednesday defender Guy Branston has joined Torquay United after his contract with Burton Albion was cancelled by mutual consent.