Sheffield Wednesday have confirmed in their 2019/20 retained list that Preslav Borukov will leave this summer. Borukov hasn’t made a first-team appearance since joining four years ago and is out of contract next week, so his departure has been on the cards for some time.
The 20-year-old joined Wednesday from Levski in 2016 and has risen to the fringes of the first-team. Borukov was an unused substitute in the Owls’ FA Cup win over Queens Park Rangers (January 24) and 2-1 defeat to Wigan Athletic (January 28), but he hasn’t come any close to playing under Garry Monk.
Steven Fletcher, Fernando Forestieri, Connor Wickham, Atdhe Nuhiu, Sam Winnall and Jordan Rhodes are ahead of Borukov in the pecking order, so the young centre-forward stood no chance of getting playing time. He’s been a regular in the U23s, but hasn’t developed enough to warrant first-team football.
Borukov isn’t the only one. Wednesday have also released Omar Damba, Jordan O’Brien, Fraser Preston, Jack Stobbs, Jack Lee, Connor Kirby and Joe West, so there’s been an exodus of young talent this summer. Borukov was training with the seniors earlier in the season, so he shouldn’t have much trouble finding a new club.
