Sheffield Wednesday summer transfer exit tipped as ‘knock-on’ from Dejphon Chansiri disaster | OneFootball

Max Lowe's future at Hillsborough remains up in the air, with David Storch's plans for Sheffield Wednesday yet to be finalised...

Sheffield Wednesday’s summer rebuild looks set to be one of the most significant in recent EFL history, with the club effectively forced into a total reset under the presumed new ownership of David Storch.

With the Owls set to start the 2026/27 League One campaign on minus 15 points, the scale of the challenge is immediately heightened beyond what they had hoped and it places pressure on a squad that is likely to be almost entirely reassembled.

The expected transition from Dejphon Chansiri to Storch only adds further uncertainty, and that instability is likely to contribute to a slow-moving summer transfer window. Recruitment processes and long-term planning will take time to align, meaning Wednesday could lag behind their League One rivals in securing targets.

Crucially, this is not a typical relegation scenario. While clubs dropping into the third tier often retain a strong core and momentum, Wednesday are facing a far deeper overhaul.

With a significant number of players out of contract, there is a genuine possibility that Hillsborough will welcome an almost entirely new dressing room.

Sheffield Wednesday verdict dropped on Max Lowe as key contract date looms

One of the many players out of contract is Max Lowe, with the left-back penning a two-year deal in 2024 after joining on a free transfer from cross-city rivals Sheffield United. He has featured regularly this term, registering one assist in that time, although like last season he has missed a decent chunk through injury.

Football League World spoke to resident Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit Patrick McKenna about Lowe, asking if he believes the left-back will sign a new contract after the Storch takeover is completed or if he is resigned to losing him to a Championship club this summer for nothing instead.

Patrick told FLW: "For Max Lowe, he has shown again, in the few games recently, that he really is a standout player for us. Certainly, he is a Championship player and not a League One player.

"So, I don't think he will stick about for a season in League One, and nor would I expect him to because he is a professional player who will want to play as at high of a level as possible.

"I think there will be interest from Championship clubs and he has to do what is best for his career, and I don't think a season in League One would be good for him at all.

"So, yeah, I am kind of resigned to losing him — most likely to a Championship club. Unfortunately, there won't be a transfer fee with it. It just kind of feels like another knock-on from the [Dejphon] Chansiri era that we didn't get him tied down.

"During the absolute chaos of the summer, we nearly lost him. Even with his injuries this season, I am glad we were able to retain him. But, yeah, he is a Championship-level player and he won't be playing for us next season."

Max Lowe is symbolic of greater issues ahead for Sheffield Wednesday

It's fair to say losing quality like Lowe is a blow for a League One campaign, but it must be remembered by Sheffield Wednesday fans that their expectations must be tempered in 2026/27.

Despite their size and stature, Wednesday are unlikely to hit the ground running due to the squad overhaul. Instead, a period of adaptation and consolidation will be required, with early-season performances likely to reflect a side still learning to function cohesively.

That instead of one ready to mount an immediate promotion push, with Lowe et al. the kinds of players required for an immediate return but the vast majority unlikely to stick it out playing below their level.

Lowe is 29 this summer, which is the sort of peak-age quality Storch and co. would surely love to retain. But these things are not so simple for Wednesday, despite many players knowing they are a historic club of real size and potential.