Sheffield Wednesday can finally begin their preparations for next season and the following three players – including Queens Park Rangers’ Chris Wilder target – could be useful additions.
After an uncertain few months, Sheffield Wednesday’s status as a Championship club was confirmed on Saturday.
This is the first season in three that Wednesday know for definite which division they’ll be playing in come August, and that – in theory – should enable the Owls to go about their summer business earlier than they have the previous two.
While their budget may be smaller than they’re used to, that doesn’t necessarily mean that Wednesday will struggle to add quality.
And the following players’ impending free-agent statuses are certainly no reflection of their abilities. The Owls could do worse than to snap them up…
Tom Beugelsdijk (ADO Den Haag)
The centre-back is described on his Wikipedia page as an ADO Den Haag ‘cult hero’, due to his ‘fighting mentality’ – a quality which Wednesday have arguably lacked this season. That’s not to say however that Beugelsdijk cannot play, and his a tendency to make marauding runs upfield certainly defies his thuggish, 6ft 4in frame. A natural right-footer, the 27-year-old could work well in Luhukay’s three-five-two system, opposite perhaps another wandering Dutchman in Joost van Aken, with the more disciplined Tom Lees between them.
Beugelsdijk has been linked with English clubs before – notably Leeds United and Birmingham City – and had a spell at FSV Frankfurt in Germany, where he may have caught the attention of Owls manager Jos Luhukay.
Jack Robinson (Queens Park Rangers)
The versatile defender admitted this week that his time at QPR may be up, having not yet received any contact regarding a new contract. Given Robinson’s resurgence this season that’s something of a surprise. And with Wednesday’s shortage in the 24-year-old’s new position – reinvented at centre-back – and old one – left- or left-wing-back – he’d be a smart addition for the Owls.
A rumoured target for their local rivals Sheffield United – as well as clubs in the Premier League – landing Robinson would at least give Wednesday some bragging rights after a difficult campaign.
Youness Mokhtar (PEC Zwolle)
A product of PSV Eindhoven’s youth system, Mokhtar is starring in Holland once again following a brief and unsuccessful spell in Saudi Arabia. The Moroccan has scored 10 goals and made another six from the wing this season, and his pacey, direct style would be most welcome at Hillsborough.
Zwolle have dropped from fourth to seventh in recent months and, according to recent reports, Mokhtar is eyeing a new adventure abroad.
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