Quiet start to the summer at Hillsborough as Wednesday return to training

Last updated : 28 June 2018 By C. Morris
No major movement in or out at S6 yet
 
After a season of disappointment in 2017-18 Sheffield Wednesday will be expected to improve next season and get closer to the prvious 2 campaigns that took them into the promotion play-offs.
 
Having spent big on wages since owner Dejphon Chansiri took over in 2015 the Owls will have to manage their promotion ambitions with a need to comply with Profit & Sustainability rules and so it wouldn't be a great surprise to see the club try to move on some of their higher earners, be it on loan or permanent deals. 
 
Owls manager Jos Luhukay successfully integrated some youth team players into his squad last season but Owls fans will be keen to see the club retain the core experienced players. Barry Bannan and Fernando Forestieri returned from injury to great effect in the last few weeks of the season and though rumours often link them with possible moves away there are other less influential high earners that the club may look to try and offload to reduce the wage bill if they can avoid having to cash in on their best assets. Other key players such as Kieran Lee, Gary Hooper & Keiren Westwood spent much of last season on the sidelines but they have returned to training at the start of pre-season and should be important players for the Owls next season. 
 
So far the only movement in or out in terms of the core playing staff has been the release of Glenn Loovens and Ross Wallace. Both experienced players, their contracts will not have been insignificant and so this will represent some saving on wages but both will need to be replaced. Wednesday are also without last seasons loan defender Frederico Venancio and so are short of options at the back with Luhukay having preferred to play with 3 centre-backs for the majority of his tenure to date. 
 
The Owls are thought to be trying to bring Venancio back to S6 and the player has stated he would be keen on a return. As far as other potential signings are concerned, the loan market could be key for the Owls when taking their potnetial financial contraints into consideration. Utilising loan signings was a strategy that worked effectively in the 2015-16 season and loan players were key to the success of Huddersfield Championship promotion in 2016-17. 
 
It may have been a slow start to the summer transfer window so far but Jos Luhukay will be keen to have the bulk of his squad in place before the season kicks-off in 5 weeks time so there is likely to be an increase in movement in and out of Hillsborough in July.