Sheffield Wednesday have a number of first-team players out of contract next year, in what could prove to be a pivotal summer for the Owls.
Sheffield Wednesday had a big rebuilding task on their hands this summer.
The club had the barebones of a squad with just a few weeks before the start of the new season, meaning that Xisco Munoz and co had to hurry to put together a big enough side.
And that side has since struggled. Danny Rohl is now the man in charge and he guided the club to their first win of the season last time out.
Relegation remains the likelihood for Wednesday and next summer could be a crucial one in deciding their medium and indeed long-term future.
The Owls have a number of players out of contract next summer; some of them key players, with one being Di’Shon Bernard.
The Jamaican international signed on a free transfer in the summer and he’s since proved to be one of the club’s best signings, with Munoz saying that the 23-year-old had ‘big potential’ upon his arrival at Hillsborough.
Should Bernard get a new Sheffield Wednesday deal?
Bernard remains a relatively inexperienced player for his age. But he’s gaining good experience on the international stage and this season with Wednesday, having played in nine of the Owls’ opening 14 league games so far.
Rohl started Bernard on the bench for his first two games. But Bernard started in defence against Rotherham last time out and helped Wednesday keep a clean sheet.
He was one of many standout performers of the day and given the fact that he’s one of the younger players in the side, and certainly one of the younger defenders, he could be someone who the club look to build around.
He has all the attributes of a very good Championship player and with a full season of experience behind him, he should really progress and develop, and playing under a more positive boss in Rohl will do his development a world of good too.
Bernard certainly has a chance to impress now and after his positive performance vs Rotherham, he could put a run of starts together for Wednesday, who go up against Bristol City this weekend.