Here are three loanees that Sheffield Wednesday could sign if they avoid relegation.
Sheffield Wednesday have just nine games left to confirm their Championship status for another season, while a good run of form has left them within touching distance of safety.
After a tough defeat to Leeds United last time out, the Owls now sit only a point below QPR and Birmingham City.
Danny Rohl‘s side still have a number of really tough games approaching and will have to be at their very best to crawl their way out of the bottom three, but a run of five wins in their last seven games will give them plenty of hope.
The German manager has already admitted that him and his team will be focusing on avoiding relegation before contracts are discussed, with a large majority of their starting line-up out of contract in the summer.
Sheffield Wednesday will be keeping one eye on their players’ futures though, while they will probably have a few transfer targets in mind too – whether they stay up or get relegated.
It is looking increasingly likely that they can avoid dropping back down to League One, though they will certainly have to bring in some new talent if they are to avoid the same situation again in a year’s time.
Here are three loanees that the Owls could target this summer…
Joe Gelhardt
Joe Gelhardt was very highly-rated during the early years of his time at Leeds United, while he further caught the eye after netting a dramatic added-time winner against Norwich City in their bid to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
The Whites did narrowly stay in the top flight, and as a result, Gelhardt managed only one start before he was sent out on loan to Sunderland.
The striker was expected to partner Ross Stewart, but a long-term injury to the Scot meant he was forced to play as a lone striker.
Gelhardt did struggle without someone along side him, but managed to claim six goal contributions in 18 games as the Black Cats reached the playoffs.
Gelhardt since returned to Leeds and has now managed only nine minutes of Championship action since September.
Bobby Clark
Bobby Clark is one of a number of Liverpool youngsters who have enjoyed a brilliant start to 2024.
After being named by the BBC as one of ‘Five young English footballers to watch out for’ in 2022, the midfielder was brought on in the Reds’ Carabao Cup final victory over Chelsea last month – winning his first piece of silverware. He was then handed his first start in the Premier League in their 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
Clark was said to be attracting interest from the Championship and below in January, so he could potentially leave on loan this summer.
Alfie Gilchrist
It may be an ambitious one given the amount of interest there will likely be in him, but Chelsea could surely look to offload Alfie Gilchrist on loan this summer.
Millwall were reportedly one club interested in the defender in January, but the Blues decided to keep him around the first team for the rest of the season.
Gilchrist has received high praise from John Terry, who labelled him ‘unbelievable’, with the 20-year-old making eleven appearances in all competitions this term.