Jamie Vardy, transfer budget and 12 other Sheffield Wednesday questions answered

Q: Will there be much money to play with this summer?

DH: It’s a difficult one to answer right now. Long gone are the days when Wednesday could afford to pay millions of pounds on transfer fees for players. I think they will look to use the free agents and loan markets this summer. You have to remember that Darren Moore has only signed a couple of players for transfer fees: Famewo, Bakinson and Wilks. None of them have been big success stories.

A more sustainable approach has worked in the past couple of years. I don’t see Wednesday, though, having any trouble attracting players after their play-off exploits. But they must bring in the right characters who will improve the quality of the squad.

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Q: Any chance at all of Wednesday signing Jamie Vardy?

DH: Stranger things have happened in football. We know Wednesday are Vardy’s club.

But I doubt they could afford Vardy. He would have to take a serious pay cut to come to Hillsborough. Vardy is also in the twilight of his career and the club’s focus really ought to be on lowering the average age of the squad.

Q: With the step up do you see any of the promising youngsters breaking into the first team next season (league rather than cups) or more loans out for them?

RC: I know Rio Shipston and Sean Fusire were involved in first team training this term and it remains to be seen whether they’ll supplement the squad next year or if the next step in ther progression is a loan spell out in the EFL.

Darren Moore has spoken highly of them but for the likes of Ciaran Brennan and Ryan Galvin it’s crunch time as they need regular football at their age.

Q: What are top positions you think we need to strengthen? And also what areas of improvement do we most need to focus on in the market? (i.e lack of pace)

RC: I think all areas need a bit of strengthening. I’m not talking major upheaval but perhaps a sprinkling of additions. I don’t imagine arrivals in the summer will be into double figures like last year. I think a definite must is, as you’ve mentioned, pace in the team.

Q: If the right offers came in, who from first team would you be happy selling and who is inexpendable at this point?

RC: I wouldn’t be looking to sell anyone out of the current group. That might not have been the case had the Owls not got promoted this season.

They may well have had to cash in on the likes of Josh Windass had they not won at Wembley but given the squad is quite slim – and there are a number of players whose deals need to be renegotiated – I’d be reluctant to let go of anyone.

Q: Any truth in the reports of us trying for Mark McGuinness?

RC: It’s no secret that Wednesday and Moore are big, big fans of McGuinness. He was superb in the first half of last year and pretty much every Wednesdayite would take him back in a heartbeat.

But it’d take a significant sum to get him away from Cardiff and there would likely be competition. But promotion to the Championship has helped Wednesday’s cause no end. And with uncertainty over the futures of Dominic Iorfa, Aden Flint and Reece James, the Owls could do with another body there to compete with Michael Ihiekwe, Ben Heneghan and Akin Famewo. Signing McGuinness would be a big statement of intent.

Q: Now we are up who do you envisage staying from the out of contract players? Secondly, is Darren Moore under contract for next season?

RC: In terms of out-of-contract players Liam Palmer’s already confirmed he is staying. I’d be amazed if Josh Windass and George Byers don’t follow suit. The signs are encouraging too with the likes of Callum Paterson. I still think a few will leave, especially those who have hardly featured this term.

In terms of Darren’s contract, the club have kept it largely under wraps but he can be assured to be in the Hillsborough hotseat for the foreseeable after a superb end to a record-breaking season.

Q: Will George Byers sign a new deal?

DH: It sounds like Wednesday have an option in their favour to extend his deal by a further 12 months. He is an important cog in the Owls midfield machine. He has enjoyed his time at the club.

It would be nice to see him get a regular run in the team after two injury-hit years.

Q: What do you think Moore’s view will be on formation going forwards? Obviously we’ve played with a back three this season but historically his preferred formation is the 4-2-3-1. Could you see him adapting to that in the Championship?

DH: I don’t see Moore moving immediately away from a 3-5-2 system. That formation has brought Wednesday a lot of success in the past two seasons. It depends on how many of the out-of-contract players stay. There is going to be a decent-sized summer rebuild. Moore would have to bring in two to three new wide players to play a 4-2-3-1. We have seen throughout his time in charge that he is not afraid to play different formations.

Q: Regarding Moore’s comments on lowering the age of the team, what does this mean for the likes of Marvin Johnson, Lee Gregory and Jack Hunt?

DH: I don’t see all of those staying. Gregory would love to be at Hillsborough next season. Will Gregory be first choice next season? Probably not. Would he be happy playing a bit part role at his age? It is a tough one.

Johnson has hinted he would like to stay l in previous interviews. Hunt has probably played his last game for the club. It has just not worked out for him.

Q: Which of the loanees do you think we will sign?

DH: James is a strong possibility. Moore is a big fan and he has played well this season. Has Flint done enough to earn a permanent Owls deal? His lack of pace concerns me. There were a few matches where he was caught out of position and at fault for some of the goals Wednesday conceded. Centre-half is definitely an area Wednesday need to strengthen for me.

Q: Is Chansiri allowed to spend big and if so do you think he will taking on board what’s happened over the last few years?

DH: There are financial constraints Wednesday have to work within. We know that they got themselves into trouble in the past by breaching FFP rules.

I don’t see there being a repeat this time around. There have been clear signs to suggest Wednesday have learned from past mistakes in the transfer market.

Q: Cameron Dawson has come on strides this season but will he still be first choice next season or do you see another keeper coming in to be number one? Bailey Peacock-Farrell perhaps?

RC: It’s a tough one. Dawson deserves the chance to be undisputed number one and given David Stockdale’s age it’s likely Wednesday will need another stopper. BPF would be a potentially costly addition given Burnley are now in the Premier League, so whilst I can see them signing another GK, I wouldn’t expect that huge amounts will be dished out.

Q: Where do you see our wage bill compared to other teams. Luton went up with the 20th biggest wage bill so it does not necessarily need to be high???

DH: I don’t see Wednesday necessarily having a top-10 wage budget but I am sure it will be competitive.

I have no doubt Chansiri will try to provide Moore with the funds to bolster the squad. There are a number of areas where they could do with upgrades.

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