'Very busy summer' ahead for Sheffield Wednesday - they won't be able to name an XI as things stand
Sheffield Wednesday currently have fewer than 10 senior players on their books for next season, and a big job lies ahead for whoever takes over.
A whole host of Owls contracts will expire in the summer ahead, while numerous loan spells will obviously come to an end as well. Though Wednesday - under Dejphon Chansiri - were not explicit about the lengths of the contracts signed, it’s thought that all but about eight players will see their deals come to a close in a few months’ time.
The likes of Pierce Charles, Di’Shon Bernard, Gabriel Otegbayo, Yan Valery, Sean Fusire, Olaf Kobacki, Charlie McNeill and Ike Ugbo believed to be those who have deals beyond the current campaign, while there are also some who have become first teamers - such as Ernie Weaver, Joe Emery and others - who also still have time left.
Sheffield Wednesday don’t have a squad for next season
It leaves the manager in a very tricky position, especially given the fact that the club are not allowed to offer any new contracts out at present. Right now, the Owls will not be able to field a senior starting XI at the start of 2026/27 with what will be available.
For Henrik Pedersen, he’s focused on trying to do what they can to best position themselves for what comes between now and then. Even though it’s a tough space to be in.
“It will be a very, very, very busy summer,” he told The Star. “It’s why we have to prepare all that we can prepare. We can prepare our own players and make recommendations for what we have to do, and why we have to do it. It’s so we can be as well prepared as possible for the market - and then when the new owner comes in then we’ll find out the level that we’re flying into. And what we can do in that market.
“Of course when a new owner comes in we’ll know the conditions that we’ll be able to things, and then it’s much easier to be specific with outs and ins. Right now we have to control what we can control, and that is to be prepared with the players we currently have in the club.”
Wednesday face Derby County this weekend as they seek to take a step closer to reaching zero points, and ending what has become a depressingly long losing streak.