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FLW's Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit is open to the decision to bolster their squad with Andy Rinomhota

Sheffield Wednesday are going to be exceptionally busy in the transfer market this summer as they rebuild their squad ahead of a League One return.

The Owls' senior squad was gutted last summer due to various late wage payments and contract breaches under former owner Dejphon Chansiri, and announced the departures of 13 more players this summer as part of their retained list, whether they be loanees returning to their parent clubs or leaving Hillsborough at the end of their contracts.

According to the Sheffield Star's Wednesday depth sheet in the aftermath of that list, Henrik Pedersen only has 16 outfielders who have made a senior appearance on the books, not including players who are still in talks over new deals.

With a lot of those 16 players being inexperienced youngsters who wouldn't have made their debuts under any normal circumstances last season, it may be deemed that the number of League One-ready players at Hillsborough currently is even fewer than that number, too.

Therefore, a lot of players will be coming through the door this summer, and one man linked so far has been Reading's Andy Rinomhota, who has been offered fresh terms at the Select Car Leasing Stadium this summer, but it is unclear whether he'll sign those, potentially leaving him open to moving elsewhere for free.

Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit delivers verdict on Andy Rinomhota links

Rinomhota re-joined Reading, where he came through the academy, last November, following his release from Cardiff City, but his time back in Berkshire has been unproductive to say the least.

He made only three appearances for Leam Richardson's side this season, mainly for personal reasons, though, as an urgent family matter saw him withdraw from the Zimbabwe side for the African Cup of Nations, and he didn't make his return until April.

Nevertheless, with the midfielder turning 29 last month, plus the amount of ambition that the new Arise consortium ownership at Sheffield Wednesday has shown thus far, some Owls fans are turning their noses up at the prospect of signing him.

Not Patrick McKenna, FLW's Wednesday fan pundit, though, who understands that not every signing this summer needs to be a blockbuster one, and squad players on free transfers are the "sensible" deals that the Owls need to make a well-rounded side.

"I think, since he's a free agent, he is possibly someone we could add to the squad, whereas if we had to pay a fee, I'm not sure the interest would be there," he admitted.

"We are building a squad for League One. He is nearly 30, but if we're talking replacements for, say, Nathanial Chalobah, he was 30 himself, and both have ability and experience.

"We have to bear in mind that there will be a lot of players coming to Hillsborough this summer, and some will stand out more than others. Ones like Rinomhota are the sensible squad picks that you have to turn to."

Ultimately, with over 200 Championship appearances in the bag, McKenna would welcome Rinomhota, as the Owls squad could use some of that experience, especially if they do turn to some exciting young stars this summer as their marquee signings.

"I don't think it would be a negative move, and it's one I could possibly see developing to the point where he becomes a Wednesday player in the next few weeks," he concluded.

Andy Rinomhota would provide excellent Championship experience to the League One Owls

The three League One appearances that Rinomhota made at the Select Car Leasing Stadium this season were the only three that the 29-year-old has made in his career. Up until this point, he'd exclusively played in the Championship.

While his numbers don't exactly jump off the page, and he wouldn't be the most exciting arrival at Hillsborough if a move were to be made, his consistency in the second tier and how reliable he has been are qualities that Wednesday shouldn't overlook.

If Rinomhota does sign on, he could easily slot into the starting eleven most weeks, too, and go under the radar while the more traditionally 'exciting' players take the limelight next season in Henrik Pedersen's side.

Either way, the 29-year-old may not be the sexiest signing that Wednesday can make this summer, but he'd definitely be one of the more important.