David Storch facing early Sheffield Wednesday transfer hurdle as interest mounts | OneFootball

Dominic Iorfa's contract runs out in a month, and clubs outside of Sheffield Wednesday are showing interest in him

There's a feeling of optimism surrounding Sheffield Wednesday for the first time in what feels like forever, but that doesn't mean there isn't a lot of work to do to keep that feeling strong.

The Owls were finally taken over ahead of the final game of the Championship season by David Storch's Arise Capital Partners consortium, bringing an end to over six months in administration.

Ahead of that final day outing against West Brom, it was revealed that Wednesday would be starting next season on zero points, rather than minus 15. Since then, it's been disclosed that Henrik Pedersen's side won't be subject to a £7,000 per week salary cap or a £7 million seasonal spend.

So, Sheffield Wednesday will begin life back in League One on a level playing field, giving them a good opportunity to bounce back at the first time of asking. To do that, though, a lot needs to be done about the current playing squad.

The Owls' squad was gutted last summer as a result of late wage payments, leading to contract breaches and general refusal to spend money and improve the team from former owner Dejphon Chansiri. In consequence, a lot of this season's senior players were either on loan or had contracts set to run out this summer.

Dominic Iorfa could have played his last game for Sheffield Wednesday

One of those players who stuck around despite the insecurities surrounding Sheffield Wednesday last summer was Dominic Iorfa, who completed his seventh full campaign at Hillsborough.

According to Joe Crann's Substack, The Wednesday Word, that could be his seventh and last, as his contract is set to expire, and he's the subject of interest from sides further up the pyramid.

The 30-year-old played more games this past season than he had in each of his prior five, making 34 Championship appearances, crucially staying as fit as he possibly could during a time when Wednesday needed experienced bodies in the squad.

It was the most appearances he'd made since making 41 in the 2019/20 campaign, and it just beat out the 32 he made during the 2022/23 term, when Wednesday dramatically won promotion out of League One under Darren Moore via the play-offs.

With 222 outings for the Hillsborough-based side, Iorfa has been through plenty of ups and downs, and if he has played his final game for Wednesday, he will leave with the well-wishes of those connected with the club.

Sheffield Wednesday parting ways with Dominic Iorfa could be the best move for all parties

It's no secret that this summer will be a massive rebuild for Sheffield Wednesday, and while Henrik Pedersen will likely want to head into the new season with some familiar faces, perhaps moving on from Iorfa could be the best move for all parties.

The 30-year-old isn't getting younger and may see a move to a Championship club as the final time he can play in the second tier. After proving his fitness this past season, it would be a good reward for him, personally.

Meanwhile, it would allow the Owls to look for a younger replacement who could still contribute massively towards a potential promotion bid and have a better sell-on value in the near future.

It may be difficult to bid farewell to someone who has stuck with the club throughout its darkest times in recent memory, but allowing him to move on would be an indication that the new owners at Wednesday are prioritising the long-term future of the club, rather than fixating on keeping some of the old guard around.