Where Sheffield Wednesday rank in the Championship's most high value teams | OneFootball

It has been a tough first season back in the Championship for Sheffield Wednesday.

Wednesday were promoted from League One last season after beating Barnsley in the play-off final at Wembley in May, and they are in danger of making an immediate return to the third tier.

The Owls made their worst start to a season in their history, resulting in the sacking of Xisco Munoz in October, but performances and results have improved significantly under Danny Rohl.

After two consecutive defeats against promotion-chasing Leeds United and Ipswich Town, Wednesday head into the international break in the relegation zone, but with a more favourable set of fixtures to come when the action resumes, they will be hopeful that survival can still be achieved.

The Owls have made a host of signings throughout the campaign, but many of those who have arrived at Hillsborough have been either free transfers or loans.

That has led to criticism of chairman Dejphon Chansiri for his lack of investment, particularly considering the club's high ticket prices, and protests against his ownership have increased in recent months.

We looked at the value of Wednesday's squad, and how it compares to the other Championship teams.

Sheffield Wednesday's squad value compared with their Championship rivals

According to Transfermarkt, the value of Wednesday's squad is €20.18 million (£17.24 million).

This means that the Owls' have the squad with the second-lowest value in the Championship, with only Rotherham United, who currently sit bottom of the league, being ranked below them at €14.75 million.

It is perhaps unsurprising to see Wednesday ranked so low considering their lack of spending, and the fact that the average age of their squad is 27.2 years, with only Rotherham (27.5 years) and West Bromwich Albion (27.6 years) having an older squad.

Plymouth Argyle, who were promoted with the Owls from League One last season, have the third-lowest squad value in the division at €30.40 million, followed by Huddersfield Town (€34.28 million), Queens Park Rangers (€34.45 million) and Preston North End (€38.73 million).

This is in contrast to the sides with the highest squad values in the division, with Leicester City topping the list at €211.00 million, followed by the two other sides relegated from the Premier League last season, Leeds (€204.70 million) and Southampton (€189.90 million).

The trio have spent much of the season inside the top four along with Ipswich, but the Tractor Boys have the ninth-lowest squad value in the league at €50.50 million, underlining how impressive an achievement it has been for Kieran McKenna's side to keep the pace at the top of the table.

Wednesday do have some exciting young players whose value could increase significantly over the coming years, including the likes of Anthony Musaba, Djeidi Gassama and Bailey Cadamarteri, and Rohl's preference for younger, pacier players is likely to see the average age of the squad come down this summer.

Whichever division the Owls are in next year, this season has highlighted the need for Chansiri to invest in the squad, but there are big question marks over whether Rohl will be provided with the required backing in the upcoming transfer window.