Sheffield Wednesday have been dealt a huge blow to their chances of landing Reece James this summer.

What's the talk?

That's according to journalist Dom Howson, who claimed in a recent Q&A on Yorkshire Live that, while there is genuine interest in the Doncaster Rovers left-back from Darren Moore's side, a deal for the 27-year-old could be a difficult one for the Owls to get over the line, as James would prefer a move to a Championship club.

Howson said: "There is a genuine interest in Doncaster Rovers defender Reece James but it looks a bit of a long shot. His preference would be to move to a club in the Championship."

Moore will be devastated

Considering just how impressive James has been for Doncaster this season, the likelihood that a move to Wednesday may be scuppered as a result of the club's relegation to League One is sure to leave Darren Moore devastated.

Over the £3,700-per-week defender's 43 league appearances this term, the 27-year-old scored seven goals, registered two assists and created two big chances, as well as making an average of one interception, 1.7 tackles and 0.9 key passes per game.

These metrics saw the Rovers man earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.95, ranking him as the club's fourth-best performer in the third tier.

With Moore likely to rely quite heavily on the free transfer market this summer as a result of Sheffield Wednesday's dire financial situation, a move for James would appear to have suited the 47-year-old Owls manager down to the ground. That deal would have cost the club nothing but the players' salary, while the Wednesday gaffer would have been gaining a talented left-back who he knows very well from his own stint at the Keepmoat Stadium.

However, this latter point could be something which gives Wednesday a sliver of hope in their pursuit of the "adaptable" defender. Moore's prior relationship with the player, in addition to the Owls being fancied to make an immediate return to the Championship next season, could yet be enough to convince James of a move to Hillsborough this summer.

In other news: SWFC handed huge blow over "immense" £270k-rated beast, Moore will be gutted - opinion