Opinion: Another striker could leave Sheffield Wednesday on a free transfer this summer
Fernando Forestieri could be released at the end of his contract after a disappointing campaign at Sheffield Wednesday, and Jordan Rhodes is another striker who looks on his way out of Hillsborough after struggling for form and playing time while having only three months left on his deal.
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The 30-year-old has racked up less than 500 minutes of Championship football this season and finds himself behind Steven Fletcher, Forestieri, Atdhe Nuhiu and Connor Wickham in the pecking order under Garry Monk. Rhodes’ last appearance in any competition came in January.
Jonty Colman and Dom Howson of Examiner Live reiterated in a Q&A: “It is clear Rhodes has no future at Hillsborough.” The Scottish international joined from Middlesbrough in 2017 and has gone on to make 70 appearances in all competitions, scoring just 13 goals.
As per Transfermarkt, Rhodes hasn’t managed to score more than five league goals in a season for Wednesday and has failed to score in 14 of his 15 games this campaign. He won’t be missed.
The 30-year-old had an opportunity to nail down a regular place in the side after scoring a hat-trick in Wednesday’s 4-0 win over Nottingham Forest in December, but he fired blanks in subsequent games and was eventually dropped.
Wednesday need to trim the wage bill and rid themselves of deadwood ahead of a summer rebuild, so Rhodes is one of many players likely to be moved on.