Nine Sheffield Wednesday players are out of contract this summer. With the club’s on-going off-field battle with the EFL, it’s difficult to know who the Owls can afford to keep. Recent performances have highlighted the dire need for an overhaul this summer; Wednesday will have to release players if they’re to bring an adequate amount of new faces in.
Here, we take a look at those nine players who could leave Sheffield Wednesday on a free this summer.
Nine Sheffield Wednesday Players Who Could Become Free Agents in the Summer
Steven Fletcher
Despite suffering an injury in early January, Fletcher has equalled his best goalscoring season with an impressive return of 13. On average, that’s 0.55 goals per 90 minutes, the joint seventh best goals per minute ratio in the league. Not only do the Owls rely on him for his goal scoring prowess, but his sheer strength and ability to bring others into play is so important. The Owls looked a shadow of their former selves when he was injured.
The Scotsman is 33-years-old and manager Garry Monk has spoken about the need to bring the average age of the squad down. However, if they can afford to do so, the Owls would be silly not to offer their star man another year.
Fernando Forestieri
A man who polarises opinion, Fernando Forestieri‘s future at Hillsborough is certainly in the balance. Since the end of the 2016-17 season, the former Watford man has struggled for consistency. However, he’s suffered from a variety of injuries and suspensions that have stopped him from really kicking on. In the first few months of Garry Monk‘s tenure, the Argentine was out of favour. But, he’s started six of Wednesday’s last seven league games.
He’s the wrong side of 30, but Wednesday may be tempted to offer him another year on reduced terms. This is because he has that ability to run at players and produce a moment of magic.
Morgan Fox
From being booed by small sections of the fanbase before his first game of the season back in August to cementing himself as Garry Monk’s first choice left-back, Morgan Fox has enjoyed quite the turnaround in fortunes. He’s put in some steady performances this season; the Owls are hoping to keep him at the club. However, according to Football Insider, Championship rivals Middlesbrough are thought to be interested in trying to lure the former Charlton man away from Hillsborough.
This could be a concern for Wednesday, who have no senior left-backs under contract beyond this summer.
Atdhe Nuhiu
Another player who splits opinions in the fanbase is giant striker Atdhe Nuhiu. He’s one of the club’s longest serving players, having joined in 2013. He’s never been prolific and his lack of mobility can really frustrate fans. However, the six foot six Kosovan has played under seven different managers at Hillsborough and there’s a reason that none of them have ever moved him on – his sheer size is a useful weapon.
Having said that, Nuhiu is an impact player who struggles to impact games from the start. And having just turned 30, it seems unlikely that he’ll be a Sheffield Wednesday player next season.
Sam Hutchinson
Defensive midfielder Hutchinson has endured a turbulent last 18 months at Hillsborough. Last season, he only made two league appearances under Jos Luhukay but was re-introduced to the team when the Dutchman got sacked. He was a regular under Steve Bruce and at first under Garry Monk. Now he’s found himself frozen out again. Hutchinson hasn’t featured in a matchday squad since Wednesday’s embarrassing 5-0 defeat to Blackburn back in January.
Monk said that his decision not to involve him in his plans was down to the injury issues which have plagued him throughout his career. It’s highly likely that the 30-year-old will be moving on when his contract expires.
Sam Winnall
It’s never quite worked out for Sam Winnall at Hillsborough, who made the controversial switch from Barnsley back in January 2017. He checked into S6 with 11 goals in 22 appearances for Barnsley in the Championship. But, his record as a Wednesday player over four seasons is five in 33. It is worth noting that he spent the majority of the 2017-18 season on loan at Derby, who he joined on deadline day weeks after hitting the Owls’ first goal of the season. Despite only playing 17 times for the Rams, he still managed one more goal there than he has in his entire Wednesday spell so far.
This season, Winnall has scored once in 13 league outings. The former Scunthorpe man hasn’t been in the squad for any of Wednesday’s previous seven league matches. It’s obvious he needs a fresh start to reinvigorate his career.
Joey Pelupessy
Another of the Sheffield Wednesday players who could become a free agent is Joey Pelupessy. Brought to the club by Jos Luhukay in January 2018, Dutch midfielder Pelupessy has rarely impressed in an Owls shirt. He’s made 12 league appearances this season, but he’s only deputised for Massimo Luongo who has been injured recently. Sheffield Wednesday need better options in their midfield if they’re ever going to challenge for the top six.
Kieran Lee
The demise of Kieran Lee is one of the Championship’s most unfortunate player stories of recent times. Stuart Gray switched him from his natural position of right-back to central midfield in 2013. Lee became one of the league’s best box to box midfielders for a number of seasons. However, the former Oldham man missed 16 months through injury – a sobering spell that started in December 2017 and ended in April 2019.
He’s made 23 appearances this season, but unfortunately, he’s not been able to re-capture the form that made him so popular in South Yorkshire. At 31-years-old, it’s difficult to see the Manchester United product earning a new deal.
Matt Penney
Academy graduate Matt Penney burst onto the scene last season when manager Jos Luhukay was giving a lot of game time to young players. The former Mansfield loanee put in some excellent performances at left-back. But, he lost his confidence after a few poor performances when he was played out of position. Luhukay lost his job, Penney injured his shoulder and could never force his way into Steve Bruce‘s plans.
In the summer transfer window, he decided to re-join Luhukay and sign on loan for St Pauli in Bundesliga 2. He’s only played 12 times for the German side, but he recently scored his first professional goal – a memorable strike in the Hamburg derby. Now 22, Penney has plenty of potential and Sheffield Wednesday don’t have depth in his position. It would be a shame to see him leave.
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