"They need 10 players" - Exclusive: Chris Waddle drops Sheffield Wednesday transfer claim | OneFootball

The Owls legend believes it needs to be a busy summer in S6

With another turbulent season behind them, Sheffield Wednesday find themselves at a crossroads once again.

After scrambling clear of relegation last season and stabilising to finish mid table in 2024/25, attention now turns to how the club defines its ambition going forward - and who it chooses to build around.

In an exclusive interview with Football League World, Owls legend Chris Waddle outlined a no-nonsense vision for the summer: keep your best players, ditch the passengers, and invest wisely.

Among those he singled out was Djeidi Gassama, one of the few to impress consistently - not just for his quality, but for his work ethic and mentality.

Chris Waddle: Sheffield Wednesday need 10 new players to compete next season

“Yeah, I think there's a lot of players who, two or three players at the club. We realised [Shea] Charles has got to go back. You know, that's a loss. He's a very good player.” Waddle told FLW.

“You know when you look at the club at the minute, Gassama, he's very important, he's had a great season, he's worked his socks off, which is good. He's really up for the challenge where I think a lot of players have fell short of that.

“People like Lowe, Ugbo, I don't think they've done enough, I don't think they've done enough to prove themselves to the fans, to the manager that, you know, I should be picked every week.

“You know, in football, you've got to make the most of it and I think two or three of the players this season have come off the pace and not really been up to the challenge. And, you know, yes, some of them are still under contract, but they're going to have to work hard this preseason and prove to whoever the manager is, or whatever’s happening, I am worth the shirt.

“But yeah, it's very important that you keep the good players. You know, you don't want to sell the players to rival clubs just for what would be a bit of money. Then you get a lesser player in and if you go like that, you’re only going one way, where you’re going back to League One. Wednesday’s got to kick on, they’ve had a good season for all people and see the finish mid table that was good.

“Now they need to add: they need two new fullbacks, they need another centre half, they need two new, three new midfield players. I think realistically, they need 10 players. And with the players leaving and the players to add for me, Sheffield Wednesday need 10 players, if they're going to compete. And I'm not just saying Tom, Dick and Harry, and I want to go with good players for that level. If they want to compete next year and have a serious go, top six, top 10, they need 10 players.”

Sheffield Wednesday must raise standards to avoid mid table stagnation - or worse

For Waddle, retaining players like Gassama represents more than squad management - it reflects the club’s intent.

Allowing high-performing individuals to leave, particularly to divisional rivals, risks undermining both momentum and morale. At this stage in their rebuild, Wednesday cannot afford to appear short on ambition.

Equally, Waddle’s comments point to the need for higher standards across the board. A number of players, he argues, have not met the level required to drive the club forward.

Regardless of who is in the dugout next season, the challenge is clear: the Owls need to build around those who have shown quality and commitment, and reinforce with signings who can raise the team’s ceiling.