Max Lowe's weekly Sheffield Wednesday wage as Middlesbrough & Derby County circle | OneFootball

Max Lowe is of interest to Middlesbrough, Leicester City, and Derby County with FLW looking into his wage at Sheffield Wednesday amid interest growing

Sheffield Wednesday left-back Max Lowe has been linked with a number of clubs on a free transfer this summer, including Derby County and Middlesbrough.

Despite the David Storch takeover being completed, Max Lowe's Sheffield Wednesday future remains up in the air. The full-back has only played 12 games in League One previously, having spent the vast majority of his career in the Championship.

It's been stated that Lowe could be open to remaining with Wednesday in League One, but the 29-year-old is out of contract soon and one of many things that the club will want to resolve as quickly as possible.

It's since been stated that Middlesbrough, Leicester City, and Derby County are all keen on Lowe. The former if they don't go up, the latter would be a return to Pride Park, and Leicester are Sheffield Wednesday's divisional rivals in 2026/27 in League One.

Max Lowe's Sheffield Wednesday salary as wage cap talk dismissed

Storch and Sheffield Wednesday are going to face an enormous amount of financial work in the weeks and months following the takeover from Dejphon Chansiri. Budgeting, wage structures, and broader operational finances will all need careful reassessment.

After a turbulent period off the pitch, the new ownership will naturally want to move quickly in order to stabilise the club. But the sheer scale of the issues inherited could slow progress considerably. Lowe's contract is just one such problem, with many others also set to depart this summer or next based on their current deals.

From player contracts and transfer planning, to infrastructure spending and day-to-day cash flow, there are numerous moving parts that require attention. Untangling years of financial complications is rarely a quick process, even with fresh investment and ambition behind the scenes.

With that said, could they afford to tie Lowe down? Wednesday will not be subject to a £7,000 weekly wage cap or £7 million seasonal spend next season, per Joe Crann of The Wednesday Word. That does not guarantee that they can convince Lowe over Championship suitors, though.

Per estimates from Capology, Lowe is only paid less than six current Wednesday players. They are all paid between £18,000 and £22,500, while Lowe is reportedly paid £17,000 per week since signing for the club in 2024 from bitter rivals Sheffield United.

That kind of salary will not likely make the likes of Derby or Middlesbrough baulk for a starting player, but if considered a rotational option, Lowe's demands may have to be lowered somewhat to get a deal done.

Max Lowe must be kept and Barry Bannan must be re-signed for Sheffield Wednesday to launch League One assault

Sheffield Wednesday must ensure they retain a core group of players capable of performing above League One level if they are to mount an immediate promotion push following a disastrous 2025/26 Championship campaign.

Very few players emerged with real credit from such a difficult season, which only increases the importance of keeping hold of the few who consistently showed quality and character. For example, re-signing Barry Bannan following his spell with Millwall should be viewed as a major priority.

Even at this stage of his career, his leadership and quality, alongside his understanding of the club could be invaluable in League One. Meanwhile, retaining players such as Svante Ingelsson and Lowe feels equally important given both are likely to attract transfer interest after respectable individual performances in an otherwise dreadful campaign.

Wednesday cannot afford to lose the few reliable building blocks they still possess. Storch and co. have to do all they can with these types of players, but Lowe's transfer interest is already vast and makes it look likely that he moves on. That would be a huge blow for Wednesday, such is his quality.