A big summer awaits Sheffield Wednesday, regardless of which division they are in.
Concerned Sheffield Wednesday supporters look on
With only eight games left of the regular Championship season, it won’t be long until Sheffield Wednesday’s focus turns to the summer.
Be they Championship or Premier League, the Owls should acknowledge the following five steps:
Shift the surplus
Wednesday’s squad is far too big, putting an unnecessary strain on the wage bill at Hillsborough. With around £10 million of next season’s budget already heading Middlesbrough’s way for Jordan Rhodes, the Owls could perhaps to with trimming their ranks if they want to avoid future Financial Fair Play sanctions.
Urby Emanuelson, Modou Sougou, Daryl Lachman and Claude Dielna are all expected to leave at the end of their deals. Jake Kean, Filipe Melo and Lewis McGugan, however, remain under contract and should also be moved on – along with a couple of first teamers should Wednesday go up.
Strengthen at centre-back
Wednesday’s lack of strength in depth there was very nearly exposed against Reading last week, and with Vincent Sasso’s contract expiring and Glenn Loovens not getting any younger, the Owls should make finding a long-term partner for Tom Lees their top priority.
Read: Sheffield Wednesday boss’ defender excuse exposed by five of the Owls’ promotion rivals
Re-energise the midfield
Wednesday’s 2015-16 success owed much to a tenacious midfield, comprising of Sam Hutchinson, Kieran Lee and Barry Bannan, with Fernando Forestieri slightly ahead of them. Take out any one of those, and the Owls struggle to turn over possession anywhere near as often, or as high up the pitch – allowing opponents to settle and frustrate. Wednesday may have other midfielders, but are any of them capable of reaching those intensity levels? So far, no.
Sheffield Wednesday’s Kieran Lee has been missed more than most
Upgrade the full-backs
An area which has so often proved Wednesday’s Achilles heel, despite several attempts to improve it over the past two campaigns. In contrast, the Owls’ rivals are excelling there, with Tommy Smith (Huddersfield) and Scott Malone (Fulham) named the Championship’s team of the season, and Luke Ayling (Leeds) and Ryan Sessegnon (also Fulham) almost certain to have been close contenders. If Carlos Carvalhal’s side can upgrade, they should.
Read: A free agent in June, Nottingham Forest favourite could fix Sheffield Wednesday’s problem
Do everything early
Last season’s play-offs proved a hindrance in the end, extending Wednesday’s campaign by another three weeks and cutting short their time for vital recuperation and preparation. Of the Owls’ 10 summer recruits, only half were signed in time for their season opener against Aston Villa, and many additions have proved somewhat wide of the mark. Whichever division they’re in, Wednesday must start planning now – contracts, incomings, outgoings, the lot.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
