Lucas Joao's transfer clause could hand Sheffield Wednesday boss Darren Moore a summer bonus

Sheffield Wednesday will be keeping a close eye on any transfer involving former striker Lucas Joao this summer. Our sister title Berkshire Live says Reading are willing to listen to offers for the Portugal international.

When Wednesday sold Joao to Reading for around £5m in August 2019, the League One club inserted a 20 per cent sell on clause in the deal. It means the Owls will pocket 20 per cent of any future windfall for Joao.

Joao, who kicked off his career at Nacional in Portugal, has bagged 38 goals in 83 matches for the Royals across all competitions. Injuries restricted the 28-year-old to just 24 matches this term. He found the back of the net on 10 occasions to help Reading avoid relegation to League One.

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Joao, who made over 120 appearances during a four-year stint at Hillsborough, is one of just nine players contracted to the Royals for next season as things stand. However, Joao is thought to be one of the top earners and offloading him would considerably slash the wage bill as they battle to stick to a business plan imposed by the English Football League for breaching Profitability and Sustainability regulations.

If Joao is sold, it could potentially boost Darren Moore's coffers as Wednesday look to rebuild after their promotion near-miss. The Owls, beaten by Sunderland in the League One play-offs, will be able to buy players for transfer fees again from next month. Restrictions laid out by the EFL due to their well-documented off-the-field problems last year meant Moore has only brought in free transfers and loan players since taking over the reins in March 2021.