Sheffield Wednesday are yet to enter the market for players.
Sheffield Wednesday’s summer recruitment drive is expected to hot up in the coming weeks, as players return from their holidays and the transfer window officially opens.
But where will the Owls’ new additions come from? HITC Sport takes a look at the most likely points of origin.
Free agents
An option which Carlos Carvalhal, the Wednesday head coach, has previously used to sign key players Ross Wallace and Steven Fletcher. Although, having said that, there’s not a great deal going this time around, at least not in the positions in need of strengthening. Danny Williams and imminent Hillsborough arrival George Boyd are perhaps the standout names, but the American will no doubt have interest elsewhere. Verdict: Likely
Premier League
A market of which Carvalhal is particularly fond, having snapped up Jack Hunt, Barry Bannan, Daniel Pudil, Fernando Forestieri, Adam Reach, Jordan Rhodes, Gary Hooper, David Jones and Almen Abdi from top flight clubs over the past two years. Many of those have come from newly promoted sides, so players from Newcastle, Brighton and Huddersfield are likely to feature on the Owls’ agenda. Carlos tends to favour those with Championship experience, so don’t expect many teenagers from Chelsea. Verdict: Very likely
Championship
An increasingly difficult place to shop, with competition so fierce that nearly everyone is considered a direct rival nowadays. If Wednesday do recruit from the second tier, it’ll likely be for players whose contracts are running down, as was the case with Sam Winnall in January, or from clubs who want to offload. Verdict: Unlikely
Rest of the Football League
Carvalhal has rarely ventured below the Championship for players, with Morgan Fox his only lower league recruit so far. Given that promotion is again the remit, the Owls boss needs players who can make an immediate impact and is unlikely to repeat that particular trick in a hurry. Verdict: Very unlikely
Overseas
Despite bringing in the likes of Marco Matias, Lucas Joao and Vincent Sasso early on in his Hillsborough career, Carvalhal has always maintained he prefers those with English – and more specifically, Championship – experience. Wednesday should be more attractive to domestic players than they were in 2015, and shouldn’t have to shop abroad if they don’t want to. Verdict: Unlikely
Loans
Lending players is certainly an option, although Carvalhal has preferred to rely on his own players than those belonging to others in the past. If he’s struggling to land targets, or if the Football League’s financial fair play restrictions become a problem, it’s a market he could explore again – albeit perhaps towards the end of the window. Verdict: Somewhere in between
Which players would you like to see at Sheffield Wednesday this coming campaign?
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