Dean impressed for Brentford against Sheffield Wednesday earlier this year.
Sheffield Wednesday continue to be priced out in their search for a new centre-back, their head coach Carlos Carvalhal admitted recently.
Middlesbrough’s Daniel Ayala, Newcastle United’s Grant Hanley and Derby County’s Richard Keogh are among those to have been linked with moves to Hillsborough this summer, but the Owls are yet to add to their options at the heart of their defence.
If bargains are what Carvalhal is after, then targeting those whose contracts expire at the end of the coming campaign could be the way to go – although it still doesn’t guarantee they’ll come cheap.
Nevertheless, HITC Sport has picked out five names who could potentially fit the bill for Wednesday, starting with Brentford’s Harlee Dean.
Brentford’s Harlee Dean
Who is he?
Dean should already be familiar to Owls match-goers, having impressed in Brentford’s 2-1 win at Hillsborough last season. The 25-year-old, alongside his partner in crime, John Egan, scored for the Bees that night – rising highest to power home a Jota corner – before standing firm amid a second half barrage from the home side. He has been with the London club since 2012, having previously been on the books of both Southampton and Dagenham & Redbridge, and has 119 games’ experience in the Championship.
What would he bring to Wednesday?
Standing at 6ft 3in and sturdily built, Dean would first and foremost add presence to Carvalhal’s back line. He is also Brentford’s captain, highlighting leadership qualities. And, having been a regular in a footballing Bees side, he should have little trouble fitting into Wednesday’s.
Would he come to Hillsborough?
Brentford’s co-director of football, Rasmus Ankersen, insisted earlier this summer that talks with Dean were going “good”, telling Get West London: “It’s natural for any player to see what other options they have but I feel that Harlee loves the club and the fans and we think the progress he’s made has been impressive.”
Nevertheless, the Hampshire-born player is still to put pen to paper, and Ankersen added, perhaps encouragingly: “We hope he’ll be here next season. We’re not a club that can pay the premium salaries so it’s natural when a player has a year left on their contract they explore other options.
Brentford’s Harlee Dean (number 6)
“We’ve had a good contract talk with Harlee as well as Lasse (Vibe, the Danish striker). We’ll see.”
After five years at the same club, it could be that Dean is ready to seek a new challenge and, if there’s no Premier League interest, Wednesday could find themselves near the front of the queue to sign him – if of course they actually want to.
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