In the summer, Sheffield Wednesday will once more comb through the free agent pool.
Sheffield Wednesday will undoubtedly go on the lookout for deals this summer.
The Owls used to spend £5 million on players like Adam Reach and £8 million on Jordan Rhodes.
However, as of right now, up to eighteen players will be departing Hillsborough this summer, maybe ahead of a return to League One, which could really start the Football League’s downfall under Dejphon Chansiri.
Di’Shon Bernard future at Sheffield Wednesday
Di’Shon Bernard is one of the Sheffield Wednesday players without a contract this summer.
After joining on a free transfer from Manchester United last summer, the former young player has made a big impression so far this season, making 30 appearances in the Championship.
With an average rating of 6.83, Bernard ranks ninth among Sheffield Wednesday players this season according to Sofascore.
Danny Rohl has suffered because of Bernard’s recent absence from the team; in five games without him, his team has only won once and kept one clean sheet.
Although Rohl wants Bernard to stay with the team, the 23-year-old Bernard will undoubtedly depart S6 if Sheffield Wednesday is demoted, and he won’t be short of suitors either.
Sheffield Wednesday should re-sign former ‘fan favourite’ Michael Hector
Sheffield Wednesday will need to add some quality in defence next season.
The current centre-backs under contract beyond this summer are Bambo Diaby and Michael Ihiekwe, and although that might be a decent partnership in League One, the Owls would need more whether they stay up or not.
And one name who could be a good option for Sheffield Wednesday in whatever outcome this season is Michael Hector.
The Jamaican international spent time on loan at Sheffield Wednesday from Chelsea during the 2018/19 season, where he featured 37 times in the Championship and scooping the club’s Player of the Season award.
He was described as a ‘fan favourite’ during his time in S6 and he shares a lot of similar traits to Bernard in that he’s the typical Rolls Royce-type defender who is mobile and good with the ball at his feet.
Like Bernard, Hector is also a dominant force in the air.
Currently at Charlton Athletic, the 31-year-old Hector sees his contract expire in the summer; per Sofascore, Hector boasts an average rating of 6.9 in League One this season, and he also leads the club for clearances per game this season (4.4).
Dejphon Chansiri and the summer ahead
Chansiri spent a small amount of money last summer, bringing in Anthony Musaba and Djeidi Gassama, both for fees reportedly around the £1million mark.
And the summer ahead may see Chansiri spend a bit; if Rohl stays then Chansiri will have to spend to keep Rohl content, and if several players leave then the wage bill will go right down, potentially opening up some room in the budget.
Still, the club has no real assets to sell right now.
Expect the club to continue shopping in the bargain bin, but often times Sheffield Wednesday have found some gems in there, and Hector could be another.
He’d bring a real leadership to the side, as well as depth and quality in the back-line.
Whether he’d fancy a return remains to be seen, but Rohl and Championship football would surely prove enticing.
