Why Sheffield Wednesday should do all they can to steal 31-cap international from their Yorkshire rivals

It’s a funny time in football of course, but time keeps rolling on and as winter turns to spring attention will begin to turn to who will join Garry Monk’s quiet revolution at Sheffield Wednesday.
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The medium-term permutations of the ongoing coronavirus on football is still a complete unknown, especially when it comes to the transfer window and the completion of player contracts this summer.

Several Championship players, including no less than eight Owls, are approaching the end of their deals and face an uncertain few weeks, especially if the season is to conclude beyond the end of June when most deals are up.

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And with Monk advocating the need for change going forward, eyes will soon be on who the club can target to freshen up a changing room believes to have been “too comfortable for too long”.

Cash isn’t as flush as it once was at Hillsborough, however, and with further backward steps having to be made in order to fall within FFP guidelines, a bargain is more likely than a spending spree.

One place they could look is down the M62 and at Hull City, who are yet to trigger the year extension option they have on Australian international Jackson Irvine.

The energetic attacking midfielder has been a near ever-present for the Championship strugglers and played a starring role in both of the club’s 1-0 wins over Wednesday this season.

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The departures of both Kamil Grosicki and Jarrod Bowen have sparked a dramatic downturn in fortunes for Hull, who are the only team below Wednesday in the 2020 form table and find themselves a the relegation mire Wednesday are hoping to avoid.

Hull City midfielder Jackson Irvine challenges Blackburn's Lewis Travis for the ball earlier this season.Hull City midfielder Jackson Irvine challenges Blackburn's Lewis Travis for the ball earlier this season.
Hull City midfielder Jackson Irvine challenges Blackburn's Lewis Travis for the ball earlier this season.

Versatile Irvine, an international teammate of Massimo Luongo, has played in behind the striker in every third of the pitch this season and can deputise in a deeper role.

Having just turned 27 he appears to fit into Monk’s profile of a ‘good age’ and has the leadership qualities the Owls boss has admitted the changing room is lacking having been named the Tigers’ vice-captain this season.

If Hull were to let Irvine go the Owls would surely face competition for his signature. But it’s an avenue Monk and Wednesday might well pursue.