Sheffield Wednesday have reason to cash in on Kieren Westwood this summer

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Sheffield Wednesday’s Kieren Westwood has been linked with a move away from the club.

According to a recent report in The Sun, Sheffield Wednesday’s number one Kieren Westwood has been linked with a move to Southampton, Leeds United and Scottish champions Celtic.

The 33-year-old joined the Owls from Sunderland back in 2014, and during his debut season he recorded a club-record equaling 17 clean sheets which earned him a spot in the PFA Team of the Year.

Westwood went on to play a key role in the club’s two playoff campaigns, making a string of fine saves in the 2015/16 Wembley final which the Owls ultimately went on to lose 1-0 to Hull City.

His form earned him a contract extension to the summer of 2019, but this season he has barely featured after missing four months of the campaign due to surgery on his groin following an injury.

Westwood suffered a tear on his return to training meaning he is set to miss the rest of the season, though in his place Wednesday have found a suitable replacement in academy product Joe Wildsmith.

The 22-year-old has been such an impressive figure for the Owls that Westwood’s absence has barely been noticed, while fellow graduate stopper Cameron Dawson also looks a top prospect for the Yorkshire club.

Southampton are said to be eyeing a move for Westwood as a replacement for Fraser Forster who would be expected to leave in the event of relegation from the Premier League, and the Owls should look to cash in.

Aside from having two capable replacements in Wildsmith and Dawson, Wednesday need to trim their bloated squad in order to make space for manager Jos Luhukay to make some changes this summer.

The Owls have a big squad as they spent heavily in their bid for promotion, and their failure to do so should prompt them to cut back in areas where they have a surplus of players – goalkeepers and strikers.

They may not make much from Westwood’s sale considering his age, but they’ll save on wages and that could prove valuable when abiding by Financial Fair Player rules while reshaping the squad this summer.