Neil Thompson on Sheffield Wednesday midfielder's links to Celtic

Owls academy graduate Shaw, who has made a significant breakthrough at his boyhood club this season, is out of contract in June and is able to speak to any interested parties outside England.

Celtic are understood to have held preliminary discussions with Shaw, who is currently sidelined with a shoulder issue.

Thompson, preparing for Saturday’s Championship home game with Preston, said: ““That is an ongoing situation and I am not in the position to comment on that.

“That is up to the individual. It is an ongoing situation with the club. It is like anyone whose contract is up. Talks take place and that’s where we are with that."

On the importance of keeping key players at the club, he added: “It is not just about the youngsters, but keeping players who can do a job for us - whether that is this season, next season and in years to come. It’s an ongoing situation.”

Meanwhile, Thompson reports no transfer updates regarding potential incomings ahead of Monday’s deadline:

Several players remain sidelined for the Owls, with Moses Odubajo out for a couple of weeks with a hamstring issue and Chey Dunkley, Shaw and Joost van Aken among others who are missing for Wednesday, several of whose squad members were afflicted by Covid-19 at the start of January.

Thompson said: “You get injuries and you have got to deal with them.

“Chey had his first training session yesterday (Thursday), which was good. The weekend has obviously come a little bit too quick for him, but we are hoping we will get him back in some capacity next week with a bit of luck.

“Rhodesy (Jordan Rhodes) is training and fine. Liam Shaw had his shoulder injury at Exeter and has not been on the grass this week and we will just see where we go with that one.

“Joost van Aken has trained a little bit this week and hopefully he will get a little bit of football with the (under) 23’s down at Birmingham today (Friday), which is good and we are hoping if he comes through that, then he should be back on board with the squad next week.

“We are still working through the (Covid) issues of two or three weeks ago as well and I am obviously not going to speak about individuals. It is something we are mindful of.”