Michael Ihiekwe transfer development emerges after Sheffield Wednesday exit | OneFootball

The Owls confirmed on Thursdaywhich players they are willingly letting leave as free agents this summer.

Sheffield Wednesday defender Michael Ihiekwe is a reported target for League One clubs this summer.

Playing home games at Hillsborough will be no more for the 32-year-old come the start of next season. He, along with six of his teammates, have been released by Wednesday.

The Owls had until Saturday to publish their retained/released list but got it in way before the deadline, announcing their decisions to supporters on Thursday evening.

Some of the other notable names that will depart the club this summer as free agents include Stuart Armstrong, Marvin Johnson, Pol Valentin and Mallik Wilks. Wednesday opted to extend Anthony Musaba, Michael Smith and Josh Windass' stays by triggering an added one-year option on their deals. Barry Bannan, Akin Famewo and Callum Patterson have been offered new deals.

Michael Ihiekwe attracting League One interest

Wednesday make a point of not revealing players' contract lengths when they sign deals with the club, leaving supporters uncertain of who could be retained and who could be gone. The Star reported, just before the retained/released list emerged, that Ihiekwe was set to leave the club, but he is going to have plenty of suitors this summer.

A number of third tier sides want to get the promotion-winning defender to sign on the dotted line for them, as per The Star.

Ihiekwe was made available for transfer in the January window as he struggled to get into Danny Rohl's starting XI, but he finished the season in much stronger fashion, being nominated for the Championship's Player of the Month award in March.

Wednesday's manager, himself, has a pretty uncertain future too. Given the publication of the retained/released list, he must have had something to do with it. However, he has dropped a number of hints which suggested that, like Ihiekwe, he won't be at Hillsborough when the 2025/26 campaign gets underway.

Michael Ihiekwe's League One promotion credentials validate the interest in him

The importance of having players who've been there and done it, as much as some may look down their noses at that phrase, cannot be understated, no matter what level you are at. The 32-year-old has three promotions to the Championship under his belt.

Now, his winning experience at the level is, of course, not the sole factor behind why third tier teams are enticed by the prospect of acquiring Ihiekwe. Even though he's heading towards the twilight years of his career, that Championship Player of the Month nomination proves there's still plenty of ability to be extracted.

A drop in level also makes a lot of sense for him. He'll get back to being one of the key figures in the defensive line, as opposed to being in and out of the lineup like he has been for the past two seasons.