Sheffield Wednesday should try land ex-Birmingham City star to forget about Dom Iorfa | OneFootball

Sheffield Wednesday could replace Dom Iorfa with another free agent this summer, in Jonathan Panzo

Sheffield Wednesday are gearing up for a busy summer transfer window, as they look to rebuild their squad ahead of a return to League One.

The Owls' side hasn't had any meaningful additions in over a year now, after the last 12 months were filled with emergency loans and free agent signings as a result of the final moments of Dejphon Chansiri's time at the club and the administration which followed.

Late wage payments and contract breaches saw numerous senior players walk out last summer, and this summer has seen numerous players who stuck around during the recent difficult campaign leave, too.

The saddest departure this time around was Dominic Iorfa, who's seven-and-a-half year stay at Hillsborough came to an end after being released at the end of his contract. The 30-year-old made 222 appearances for Sheffield Wednesday and would have provided vital experience ahead of the third-tier campaign.

But, with a strong structure built off the field by the new ownership ahead of the transfer window opening on June 15, with the likes of David Bruce in as the new CEO and Simon Wilson set to be announced as the sporting director, there's a lot of optimism that Wednesday can replace and rebuild aptly ahead of the new season.

Sheffield Wednesday should target Jonathan Panzo to replace departing Dominic Iorfa

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With there being only 17 contracted outfield players who have made a senior appearance at Sheffield Wednesday ahead of the new season, and a lot of those being inexperienced youngsters who made their debuts this year, there will need to be plenty of new additions this summer to help build a competitive squad.

The new higher-ups at Hillsborough will have to strike a good balance between spending fees on quality additions and finding some gems on free transfers.

Those free signings could be players who have been released by fellow League One sides, Premier League academies or Championship clubs, who may need a season or two in the third tier to re-establish themselves as second-tier stars.

Jonatan Panzo could fall into that latter catagory, after the centre-back's time at Birmingham City this past season was short-lived, being released just months after being brought to the club in January from Portuguese outfit Rio Ave.

Having been brought to St Andrew's to replace a departing Eiran Cashin, who was recalled from his loan spell by Brighton and Hove Albion due to a lack of game time, Panzo resumed that role, making just eight league appearances in the second half of the campaign.

Six of them were starts, but they coincided with arguably Birmingham's worst run of form this past season, which left them 16th before an unbeaten five-game stretch to end the year pulled them up to 10th — a five-game stretch that Panzo played no part in.

Now, he's on the hunt for a new club, and after failing to make an impact in the EFL with Nottingham Forest, Cardiff City and now Birmingham, if the former England Under-21 international wants to stay in this country, he may have to accept a move to League One.

With Wednesday's centre-back core comprising veteran heads, youngsters, and injury-prone stars, it's crying out for someone at a good age, ready to prove themselves, which Panzo could easily be.

Jonathan Panzo would be a good marker for Sheffield Wednesday's transfer business this summer

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Before his move to Birmingham last January, Panzo was playing regularly in the Portuguese top flight, albeit for a lower mid-table side in Rio Ave.

However, when comparing that to the third tier, it's quite a step down. Plus, over in England, while it hasn't worked out for the 25-year-old, he's never played below the Championship.

Panzo's stock may be quite low right now, but there's no doubt that, in the right environment, the former Chelsea and Monaco youngster can definitely prove to be a class above the rest in the third tier.

If the new higher-ups at Hillsborough can convince Panzo to drop to the third tier, perhaps there may be a few other players entering their prime years looking to prove themselves at the top end of League One that they can convince over.

Securing his services early on in the window would lay down a marker for the rest of League One that, even if the division is set to be extremely competitive, Wednesday are ready to challenge for promotion immediately in it.