This Sheffield Wednesday player appears to be all but gone, following a new contract update.
Sheffield Wednesday have already said farewell to several of their first-team players from last season.
All of Cameron Dawson, Reece James, Tyreeq Bakinson, Juan Delgado, Ciaran Brennan, Will Vaulks, and Lee Gregory have left and joined new clubs on free transfers.
Softening the blow of those departures, and at the same time seemingly improving the first-team squad at Sheffield Wednesday, is the ongoing influx of arrivals in S6.
Sheffield Wednesday announced the signing of Olaf Kobacki on Wednesday morning; he joins Ben Hamer, Max Lowe, Yan Valery, Svante Ingelsson, and Jamal Lowe in signing for the Owls so far this summer.
There’s also the news that Josh Windass has signed a new contract with Sheffield Wednesday, following several weeks of uncertainty over his future.
But the case may be different for Di’Shon Bernard, who’s now, technically, a free agent.
Di’Shon Bernard contract latest at Sheffield Wednesday
Bernard, 23, became a free agent on July 1st, following the expiry of his one-year deal at Sheffield Wednesday.
The Jamaican international was offered a new deal in S6 after an impressive maiden season at Hillsborough, with Bernard featuring 32 times in the Championship and becoming a well-liked player among fans.
It’s thought that Bernard has had Championship and European suitors since the end of last season, but that he’s yet to decide for or against staying at Sheffield Wednesday.
With Windass having signed a new deal though, and with new players continuously coming in, there’s a sense that Bernard is all but gone; if not, then he’s seriously weighing up his future in S6.
Asked for an update on the matter, journalist Joe Crann said news of a potentially Bernard renewal is quiet.
Danny Rohl must now plan for Di’Shon Bernard exit at Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday have made some very exciting signings so far this summer. But the Owls are yet to sign a new centre-back.
With Bernard likely leaving, a new centre-back will certainly be required, and Rohl will want someone with the same all-round and athletic abilities as Bernard, and someone of the same age range too.
Replacing him will be difficult. It might not be a job for the free agent market, and whether or not the Owls have enough money left over after signing Valery and Kobacki, to then sign a top centre-back, remains to be seen.
There’s still the loan market which Sheffield Wednesday will likely tap into later in the summer when Premier League clubs have concluded their own business.
But with the likes of Michael Ihiekwe and Bambo Diaby, as the only natural centre-backs, with Dominic Iorfa and Akin Famewo also able to play in that position, adding another player or two at centre-back is crucial for Sheffield Wednesday.