Sheffield Wednesday’s caretaker manager Lee Bullen has cast doubt over whether striker Lucas Joao has submitted a transfer request at Hillsborough.
Bristol City are eyeing up Joao as they look to land a spearhead striker who can add quality to the Robins front line but reportedly face competition from Huddersfield.
Joao signed a contract extension in the summer of 2018 and is contracted until 2021 and it has been mooted that several second tier sides wish to take him on, after he hit nine goals in 31 Championship appearances last season.
However, only 18 of those were league starts, with 13 from the bench - following an inconsistent year. Reports have suggested that the Owls want £8m for the 25-year-old, who would welcome more first-team chances.
Bullen, who has stepped into the caretaker role following Monday’s resignation of Steve Bruce who has become Newcastle United manager, was asked whether Joao, who scored three goals against the Robins last season, had handed in a transfer request when he spoke to BBC Radio Sheffield on Thursday
He said: “I spoke to him. I don’t believe he has (asked to leave), but again I’m reading social media and everything like that.
“There’s always going to be speculation when one club has six strikers (like Wednesday). It doesn’t hold any fears for me, that.
“Lucas is a positive member of the group. He knows the group inside-out . He loves it at the club. I’ve not got anything definite to say about it, other than the rumours I’ve heard.
“I’ve spoken to the lad and he’s happy in pre-season.”
