Sheffield Wednesday faces an important summer after securing their place in the Championship. Despite a rough start to the season under Xisco Munoz, the Owls managed to avoid relegation, finishing 20th thanks to a significant turnaround under Danny Rohl.
Championship Standings 2023/24
| Team | P | GD | Pts |
|——|—|—-|—–|
| 17 | Stoke City | 46 | -11 | 56 |
| 18 | QPR | 46 | -11 | 56 |
| 19 | Blackburn Rovers | 46 | -14 | 53 |
| 20 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | -24 | 53 |
| 21 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | -11 | 51 |
| 22 | Birmingham City (R) | 46 | -15 | 50 |
| 23 | Huddersfield Town (R) | 46 | -29 | 45 |
| 24 | Rotherham United (R) | 46 | -52 | 27 |
There was concern among fans about losing Rohl over the summer, but he has signed a new long-term contract. The club is likely to be busy as he aims to rebuild the squad. Several loanees—James Beadle, Kristian Pedersen, Jeff Hendrick, Momo Diaby, Ian Poveda, Ike Ugbo, and Ashley Fletcher—have returned to their parent clubs. Additionally, Ciaran Brennan, Reece James, George Byers, Tyreeq Bakinson, Juan Delgado, and Lee Gregory have been released at the end of their contracts.
Will Vaulks has moved to Oxford United despite being offered a new contract, and Cameron Dawson is also expected to leave. However, Liam Palmer and Barry Bannan have pledged their future to the club.
Rohl is hoping for new signings this summer but has demonstrated a willingness to promote young talent. We looked at three promising young players who could break through for the Owls, potentially saving on transfer fees.
Pierce Charles
Charles debuted for the Owls in a 1-1 draw against Coventry City in the FA Cup in January, followed by another start in the replay the next month. He performed admirably on both occasions. The 18-year-old, who has significant potential, was recently called up to the Northern Ireland senior squad and signed a new contract with Wednesday last month.
Danny Rohl, the team’s manager, praised Charles in April, stating to The Star, “Pierce is a fantastic goalkeeper. He has many qualities I admire: he can maintain possession, perform well in open play, and build up from the back. He’s a good goalkeeper, and I like him.”
With Cameron Dawson expected to leave, Charles might have an opportunity. However, Wednesday plans to re-sign James Beadle from Brighton & Hove Albion following his successful loan spell and is also close to signing former Watford goalkeeper Ben Hamer. This means Charles could remain the third-choice goalkeeper next season.
Although Charles might be disappointed by not getting more chances next season, his future as the Owls’ number one seems inevitable. He has the potential for a significant career at both club and international levels.
Sheffield Wednesday have activated their option to keep Joey Phuthi at Hillsborough for another year, and the upcoming season could be significant for the winger. Phuthi debuted for the Owls as a late substitute in a 2-0 defeat against Coventry in December, and he also came off the bench in the 4-1 FA Cup replay loss to the same opponents in February.
The 19-year-old was regularly included in the matchday squad during the second half of the season. If he continues to impress in the academy, it won’t be long before he gets more first-team opportunities. In April, Phuthi expressed his determination to secure a spot in the first team, telling The Star, “I’m targeting to be back with the first team in pre-season, and both Steve (Haslam) and Andy have said that I need to start really trying to impact the seniors. We sometimes joke about my out-of-possession work, but it’s something that I’ll be really trying to work on in the summer, and hopefully, it can be less of an issue, and I can start to affect the first team.”
Manager Danny Rohl aims to strengthen the squad’s wide areas this summer, which might limit Phuthi’s game time. However, his pace and creativity make him a valuable player. Phuthi could be a useful squad option, potentially saving the club from spending on a new player for that role.
Bailey Cadamarteri
Sheffield Wednesday supporters had long been advocating for Bailey Cadamarteri to be given a chance in the first team, and this season, he finally got his opportunity. Known for his prolific scoring in the academy, Cadamarteri surprised many with his impact at the senior level, netting three goals in four games at the start of December.
Although his playing time was more limited in the second half of the season, Cadamarteri ended the campaign with five goals and one assist in 25 appearances across all competitions. This is a respectable return for his first year in senior football.
Given their scoring struggles this season, strengthening the forward line will be a priority for Wednesday this summer. It remains uncertain whether manager Danny Rohl will decide to send Cadamarteri out on loan. A loan spell could be highly beneficial for Cadamarteri, helping him to develop his physicality and overall game. However, his departure will depend on the club’s transfer activities.
Strikers are often the hardest and most expensive players to recruit, so Wednesday might have a valuable asset in Cadamarteri. If he continues to progress, he could not only save the club millions in transfer fees but also potentially generate a significant profit in the future.
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