Sheffield Wednesday can find Max Lowe 2.0 with £0 deal for ex-Newcastle star | OneFootball

Sheffield Wednesday should be looking at a former Newcastle United defender if Max Lowe does not sign a new contract at Hillsborough...

Following relegation to League One, Sheffield Wednesday are facing a summer of major transition both on and off the pitch, which could include Max Lowe leaving the club.

With new owner David Storch now tasked with rebuilding morale around Hillsborough after a disastrous campaign, recruitment will be absolutely crucial if the Owls are to challenge for an immediate return to the Championship in 2026/27. That means Sheffield Wednesday retaining their best players if they can.

There is already growing uncertainty surrounding the future of Lowe amid reported Championship interest from Derby County and Middlesbrough. Losing an experienced and versatile left-sided defender would leave another sizeable gap in Wednesday’s squad heading into a pivotal season.

There is enough to do as it is without adding more to a transfer wishlist by allowing someone of his quality to leave. Even with injuries, Lowe should be among the best players, let alone defenders, in the whole division. Lowe and Wednesday remain locked in negotiations over a new contract currently, with his deal soon set to expire.

Jamal Lewis could be an excellent Max Lowe alternative for Sheffield Wednesday

Replacing a player of his sort of quality and profile will not be easy, especially while attempting to operate sustainably in League One. However, there could be a smart market opportunity available on a free transfer. That is where former Newcastle United defender Jamal Lewis comes into this discussion.

Lewis is now available after leaving Preston North End, and despite his stock falling over recent years, the 28-year-old could prove to be a very shrewd signing at League One level. Earlier in his career, Lewis looked like one of the most promising full-backs outside the Premier League during his breakthrough period at Norwich City.

His engine was combined with decent athleticism, looking comfortable on the ball, and attacking energy from left-back. His performances eventually earned him a move to Newcastle in a deal reportedly worth around £15 million, per Sky Sports.

Things have not fully worked out since then, with injuries and inconsistency disrupting his progress in his career as a whole beyond just Newcastle. But there is still a player there capable of thriving in the third tier. Importantly for Wednesday, Lewis has experience of playing for big clubs with huge expectations as well.

Even more importantly, he offers a very similar profile to Lowe stylistically. Both are naturally aggressive defenders who like to push high, overlap into wide areas, and contribute using their running and carrying in transition. Despite now ageing, both also possess the mobility needed to defend large spaces.

If Wednesday are to be ball-dominant, that is something that becomes increasingly important for promotion-chasing sides expected to dominate possession in League One and have to defend in a higher line.

Jamal Lewis needs Sheffield Wednesday more than they need him

At third tier level, Lewis would arguably arrive with one of the stronger CVs for a full-back in the division. He has Premier League experience, Championship quality, but also international pedigree with Northern Ireland.

That ability to have operated in demanding environments throughout his career is vital. Could a reset in League One, similar to what Lowe experienced earlier in his own career, benefit all parties? Could he help to revive his own career by helping to reawaken this sleeping giant of English football?

For Wednesday, this is exactly the sort of calculated gamble they may need to make under Storch. Free transfers with upside are often the foundation of successful League One promotion pushes, and Lewis feels like a player whose ceiling remains significantly higher than the division itself.

He has 114 appearances in the Championship for Preston, Watford, and Norwich. A further 59 games have come on top of that in the Premier League for Norwich and Newcastle. Rediscovering himself in League One might seem too low for Lewis, but it makes total sense for all involved.

If Sheffield Wednesday can help him rediscover confidence and rhythm, they may well find themselves landing a Max Lowe 2.0 without spending a penny on a transfer fee. It makes a lot of sense on paper if Lowe's wage demands are just too high.