Adam Reach may have an uncertain future at Sheffield Wednesday. The 27-year-old is contracted for another year, but Yorkshire Live believe he could be offloaded after underperforming this summer.
Reach has struggled to impress in a variety of roles and no longer commands a starting place, but Wednesday can’t afford to sell more players given eight of the squad are out of contract this summer alone – Morgan Fox, Kieran Lee, Joey Pelupessy, Sam Hutchinson, Sam Winnall, Atdhe Nuhiu, Fernando Forestieri, Steven Fletcher.
Wednesday would have to bring in a replacement if Reach was allowed to leave, but the Owls aren’t blessed with lucrative funds either. As per Transfermarkt, four of their five signings in 2018/19 were on loan while only one of 11 signings made this season cost a transfer fee – five were free transfers and five were on loan.
So, who could they make a move for in the free-agent market this summer?
Stephen Kingsley
Kingsley joined Hull City from Swansea City in 2017 and has gone on to make 46 appearances in all competitions. The 25-year-old has only made eight appearances this season, so he could be allowed to leave as he’s not a regular under Grant McCann, although the Tigers have an option to extend his current deal by a further year.
Jordan Obita
Obita has made 184 appearances in all competitions since rising through the youth ranks to the Reading first-team in 2011, but his time at the Madejski Stadium could be up.
The 26-year-old has been short of playing time in recent years due to injury woes, making only 22 appearances since May 2017, so he may be moved on this summer. Wednesday may be worried about his fitness record, however.
Stephen Ward
Ward joined Stoke City from Burnley last summer and has made 16 appearances in all competitions for the Potters. The 34-year-old has been out of action in 2020 due to injury but returned to training before the season was postponed due to Covid-19. With Michael O’Neill hinting at signing a new left-back this summer, Ward may be moved on.
Reach joined Wednesday from Middlesbrough in 2016 and has gone on to make 174 appearances in all competitions, contributing 48 goals. The 27-year-old has made 33 appearances this season, scoring two goals and making five assists, but he finds himself behind Fox in the left-back pecking order and Jacob Murphy & Kadeem Harris on the wing.
If Reach is moved on, Wednesday will have to be shrewd landing his replacement.
