Josh Windass leaves Sheffield Wednesday - Derby County, Wrexham AFC & Hull City should ready moves ASAP | OneFootball

Derby County, Wrexham, and Hull City should all be ready to sign Josh Windass, after he left Sheffield Wednesday.

Josh Windass is now officially free to find a new club, after the mutual termination of his contract at Sheffield Wednesday was announced on Thursday.

For the first time since 2020, the Sheffield Wednesday star will be hunting for a new club, having handed in his notice after receiving his wages late, and it's likely he'll face no shortage of options for his next move.

The 31-year-old enjoyed his best season in a Wednesday shirt to date last term, scoring 13 times and assisting a further five goals in 44 Championship outings, ending the campaign comfortably as the club's top scorer.

This season would prove to be his parting gift though, as weeks of speculation regarding Windass' future was proven correct when the Owls announced on Thursday evening that their star man had departed the club after five years of service.

Whilst he's already been linked with a host of EFL clubs and a return to former side Rangers, Football League World takes a look at three EFL clubs who should move to sign the experienced attacker, following his Sheffield Wednesday departure.

1 Derby County

Derby County have already been linked with a move for Windass, as John Eustace continues to build a hugely exciting squad ahead of the upcoming campaign at Pride Park.

Having brought United States international striker Patrick Agyemang and Luton talisman Carlton Morris to Pride Park recently, the Rams could be keen to add even more Championship experience to their attacking arsenal.

With a proven track record of being an instrumental cog in a Championship attacking unit, Windass would bring a new dimension to Eustace's attack, and also offer a versatile option who is well-versed in a number of different roles and positions.

His high work rate off the ball would also be extremely useful for Derby, as his intelligent movements and pressure high up the pitch will allow the Rams to flow more freely in transition, and he could also take the pressure off new recruit Agyemang, who will have a lot of pressure on his shoulders arriving in England.

2 Wrexham AFC

It's impossible to miss the story unfolding in North Wales, as Wrexham are gearing up for their first season in the Championship, having won promotion from League One last term.

So far, the Red Dragons have been linked with a move for plenty of free agents such as Jamie Vardy and Barry Bannan, with Windass' name also appearing on that list of targets for the Hollywood side.

Wrexham haven't been hugely busy thus far, with just Ryan Hardie and Danny Ward joining, and it's clear that the squad is screaming out for Championship experience - which Windass brings in abundance.

Of course, his notoriety for being a dependable outlet for goals in the second tier makes him a desirable asset for the Welsh club, which they desperately need, and his link-up with Hardie could bring the best out of the Scottish striker.

Another club enduring financial struggles this summer is Hull City, who've faced the same embargo as Sheffield Wednesday after failing to pay loan fees, meaning they can only sign free agents.

Of course, when you think of the name Windass, Josh's father Dean often springs to mind, having made over 250 appearances for the Tigers in his career. Now, could his son also head to Hull for his next challenge?

Well, Windass now fits the bill of players that City can sign this summer, having become a free agent. He would represent a top-quality Championship addition who is available for free, which is certainly hard to come by in today's market, but the EFL would have to approve any contract due to the fact the club are under transfer restrictions right now - and big wages scuppered a move for Oli McBurnie.

Similarly to Wrexham, the Tigers are in need of some experienced Championship reinforcements in their front line, and picking up the 31-year-old off the back of his best season in the second-tier to date could be a very wise addition for new boss Sergej Jakirović.