"Got to go greedy" - Sheffield Wednesday: £10m Di'Shon Bernard, Djeidi Gassama transfer claim issued | OneFootball

FLW's Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit has provided his verdict on the transfer value of two of the club's best players.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Sheffield Wednesday's struggles in the Championship can largely be attributed to a lack of genuine top-quality players in the squad relative to the league they are in.

Under Danny Röhl last season, the club faced a real challenge in terms of depth and standout talent, which almost cost them their place in the second tier if not for the German's remarkable turnaround that helped secure survival, but even then, the limitations of the squad were clear heading into the summer.

They are now looking to push on and had a summer of strong investment and recruitment to improve the floor and ceiling of the side for 2024/25 with no fewer than 11 signings bolstering their ranks.

However, with few standout performers to rely on, Röhl's tactical nous and management will need to remain key if they are to avoid another season of battling relegation.

He is the club's biggest asset, but there are still some Wednesday players who could fetch a hefty price in the transfer market as well.

Sheffield Wednesday: Di'Shon Bernard & Djeidi Gassama transfer value claim issued

We asked FLW's Owls fan pundit Patrick McKenna what price-tag he would currently place on Sheffield Wednesday's two best players, and why. He believes that the best player at the club is untouchable but named two others who may one day command a significant transfer fee.

"It is a bit of a strange one because the best player at the club is currently Barry Bannan but I just do not see him moving away before he retires," Patrick told FLW.

"He is going to retire at the club, so I won't put a price on him. Then you have Shea Charles as well, but he is not our player.

"So, having had a think about it, the first player I am going to choose is Di'Shon Bernard. He is definitely our best defender with all the attributes to push on and have a career in the Premier League.

"With that, you've got to go greedy and be in tune with modern football. In the past, I know we have struggled to make a profit on players and we have sold them for low prices.

"Michail Antonio is an example, so it's hard to pluck an exact figure but let's say £7 million for Bernard if teams come asking.

"He is a crucial player for us, as we don't have a huge squad. Get every penny that we can if there is interest.

"As well as him, I think Djeidi Gassama is one of our best players and he has potential for the future.

"With that in mind, and if a club comes in for him, then maybe try and get at least £3 million for him.

"However, I think the key to any transfer with him involved, and I would actually do the same with Bernard, is that any sell-on fee is quite important.

"If those players, in my mind, do have the potential to go to the Premier League, then their careers could be on an upward trajectory.

"We wouldn't want to miss out on the sell-on fee, so be a bit clever about it and don't miss out on that.

"But they are our two best players (with sell-on potential)."

Di'Shon Bernard and Djeidi Gassama hold great potential for Sheffield Wednesday

Ex-Man United man Bernard is a solid defender known for his physicality and intelligent positioning. He reads the game well and excels in one-on-one duels.

Comfortable with the ball at his feet, Bernard adds value by helping build play from the back and can be deployed in more possession-based systems due to his physical and technical attributes in a high-line.

Gassama meanwhile is a quick, tricky winger who causes problems with his pace and dribbling. He likes to stretch defences and create chances, though his final product still needs work. His speed makes him a dynamic option for Sheffield Wednesday.

However, both are raw and need more refinement. They could easily explode at some stage, but there are not many assets within the Owls' squad who are like that. Gassama lacks end product and Bernard some consistency in terms of mistakes and lapses in concentration, so their £10 million joint valuation can't be made on their current ability, but mix their potential in and it's around the right figure.