Sheffield Wednesday’s Osaze Urhoghide options as starlet looks set to leave for next to nothing

It was reported earlier this month that the talented youngster had rejected the Owls’ latest contract offer as he seeks more stability amid interest from further up the football league pyramid, with several clubs in UK and abroad having shown an interest in potentially bringing him on board.

The 20-year-old therefore looks set to become the latest talent that the club have let slip through their fingers, and the fact that he’s not come through the youth setup at Hillsborough means that any compensation would be less than the reported £300,000 that they’re expected to get for Liam Shaw.

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One possibility, which would be completely out of their hands, is that Urhoghide leaves England – he’s been linked with Sporting in Portugal and Club Brugge in Belgium among others – and the compensation is decided by UEFA. The Star understands that they’d be looking at less than £200,000 in compensation if that were the case.

Another is that a club in England signs the young defender, and the matter goes to a tribunal where the compensation amount is decided that way – but given his lack of time at the club and the fact that he was only offered a new contract relatively recently, that amount would be nominal.

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The other possibility, and one that may be the Owls’ best option, would be to come to an agreement with Urhoghide’s next employers out of tribunal, where discussions take place to decide an amount that both parties are happy with – and it could even involve players, either on loan or on a permanent basis.

That final possibility, given the club’s financial situation, may be the most beneficial as Darren Moore plans for the 2021/22 campaign in the current climate, however it would no doubt require some back and forth negotiations from the involved parties to make it happen.

Losing Urhoghide is a blow for Moore and the club – the latest in a list of departing youngsters – but now they need to try and find a way to make the best of a bad situation.