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Opinion: Sheff Wed should consider move for 26 y/o, could be a free transfer this summer

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Before the season was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Sheffield Wednesday had a problem in the engine room – Kieran Lee and Massimo Luongo were both sidelined with injury, Joey Pelupessy was struggling for consistency and Sam Hutchinson had been exiled from the first-team.

The Owls are expected to bring in a new midfielder, but he may have to be a low-value signing as the club don’t have a lucrative budget at their disposal. One player who could be available on a free transfer is Kevin Stewart – Hull City’s defensive-midfielder who is out of contract in July.

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The 26-year-old may not be handed an extension due to his injury woes and Hull wanting to lower their wage bill, so Wednesday should have him on their radar. Stewart would be an upgrade on Hutchinson and Pelupessy and could have his wages subsidised by the release of out-of-contract players.

As per WhoScored, he’s made 19 Championship appearances, contributed three goals, created nine chances, completed 77.3% of his 609 passes, won 18 aerial duels (37.5%), had 18 successful dribbles (75%), had 28 shots, blocked 27 shots/passes/crosses, made 21 clearances, given away 48 fouls and averaged a tackle (79) or interception (35) every 13 minutes.

Stewart joined Hull from Liverpool in 2017 and has gone on to make 70 appearances in all competitions. In the last three seasons, however, he’s featured in only 63 of 129 league games (49%), so Wednesday would be taking a gamble on his fitness.

Read Crippy Cooke’s previous article

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Sports journalist who is an avid football fan, enjoys debunking transfer rumours, loves to write pieces about players out in the cold and takes a large amount of pride getting a predicted XI 100% correct.