Sheffield Wednesday are light in defence and may fall on their academy for gaps to fill.
As confirmed by the club’s official website, Sheffield Wednesday have offered contract extensions to academy standouts Warren Clark and Jack Lee with the latter committing his future until 2020.
The news doesn’t exactly come as a surprise considering their respective form for the U23 side over the past 12 months – but the question now is whether they can break through to the first-team squad.
Wednesday published their retained list from the 2017/18 squad, and one noticeable absence is experienced centre-back Glenn Loovens who will depart Hillsborough in the summer at the end of his contract.
With the future of on-loan defender Frederico Venancio also unclear, it leaves the Owls with a big void to fill this summer as they are considerably light on options in the heart of their defence.
Luckily for boss Jos Luhukay, centre-back Jack Lee has been outstanding for the development squad and the 19-year-old could now be ready to become a mainstay in the senior squad.
The Sunderland-born defender joined the Owls youth system after impressing on a trial basis, and he recently told the club’s official website of his delight at signing a new contract extension.
“It’s a confidence boost to know people at the club want me to stay and hopefully they see a path for me to get into that first team,” the young defender explained.
Lee’s chances of making senior team appearances next season have been boosted by Looven’s impending departure, and the club’s financial state may also play a big part.
In their bid to secure promotion to the Premier League, the Owls spent big and they must be close to the Financial Fair Play limit, suggesting boss Luhukay may not have the biggest of budgets this summer.
With midfield a concern and an evident lack of creativity, any budget the club have hay could be spent there leaving them with decisions to make over their defence.
Tom Lees, Sam Hutchinson, Joost van Aken and Jordan Thorniley are current options, but the latter is just 21 years of age while Hutchinson is predominantly a holding midfielder rather than a centre-back.
The lack of options makes young Jack Lee a viable possibility to include in the senior set-up next term and considering his progression over the past year he seems ready for the challenge ahead.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
