Josh Windass is one player whose name is circulating for a significant transfer away from South Yorkshire, with clubs like Hull City and Stoke City showing interest in acquiring his services. Meanwhile, Danny Rohl, the German manager at Wednesday, is frequently mentioned in connection with various managerial vacancies, including the vacant position at Hull City.
It has been an excellent season for the 23-year-old, playing a crucial role in Sheffield Wednesday’s key victories by solidifying their defense. The club aims to secure him with a new contract during the off-season before potentially selling him for a substantial fee.
Sheffield Wednesday views the acquisition of Bernard on a free transfer last summer as a brilliant piece of business, anticipating the possibility of making significant profits from his sale in the future.
Having previously had loan spells at Salford City, Hull City, and Portsmouth, with positive remarks from Hull boss Grant McCann about his aggressive defending style during his time at Hull, Bernard has progressed significantly during his time at Sheffield Wednesday, despite the challenges of a tense and turbulent season.
Although Bernard has settled well into his new club, Sheffield Wednesday may be open to entertaining substantial offers for his services if reports about interest from other clubs are accurate.
Excelling alongside experienced figures such as Michael Ihiewke in the heart of defence this season just gone, Bernard’s efforts were as invaluable as the attacking players in South Yorkshire stealing the spotlight in ensuring another campaign in the Championship was eventually secured.
Di’Shon Bernard’s season in numbers
Missing large portions of the end of the season owing to injury setbacks, Bernard still managed to feature 36 times in total for the valiant Owls over the full campaign.
The ex-Man United youngster’s bravery didn’t go unnoticed when he was called into action for Wednesday’s last two crunch clashes of the gruelling season, putting in top-drawer displays against both West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland to help his side clinch back-to-back wins and clean sheets.
| Bernard’s numbers vs Sunderland | |
|---|---|
| Minutes played | 90 |
| Touches | 58 |
| Accurate passes | 43/46 (93%) |
| Clearances | 5 |
| Blocked shots | 2 |
| Interceptions | 2 |
| Tackles | 1 |
| Stats by Sofascore | |
Bernard delivered an accomplished and authoritative performance, leading his team to a 2-0 victory on the final day at the Stadium of Light, securing their survival. The 23-year-old showcased maturity, composure, and aggression when needed, making a significant impact on both ends of the pitch.
His consistent performances throughout the season include averaging 4.4 ball recoveries per match, highlighting his tireless work rate in defense, while also creating five big chances when contributing to attacking plays. This versatility and effectiveness have caught the attention of many clubs, who regret not signing him immediately after his release from Manchester United, as Sheffield Wednesday managed to do.
Aware of the value Bernard brings, Sheffield Wednesday is keen to avoid losing him for nothing, like Manchester United did. Negotiating a new contract is a priority to secure his future at the club. However, even with a new deal, the club remains open to significant offers for the 6-foot-2 defender, given his rising value after just one impactful season with the team.
The highly sought-after talent is valued even higher than Anthony Musaba, as reported by Football Transfers. Despite Musaba’s impressive skills on the right flank and his goal-scoring ability being valuable assets for Sheffield Wednesday in crucial matches, the gem in demand has surpassed him in market worth.
Bernard’s current transfer value in 2024 stands at an impressive £1.29 million, showcasing Sheffield Wednesday’s astute decision-making in the transfer market by acquiring him as a free agent when they did.
This valuation also highlights Manchester United’s misstep in letting go of their former homegrown player for nothing, especially considering his value was a significant £2.1 million back in 2022 before Bernard and the club parted ways.
However, Erik ten Hag’s team is focused on more significant challenges in the Premier League, moving past their association with the former defender.
| Sheffield Wednesday – current highest valued assets (permanent) | |
|---|---|
| 1. Callum Paterson | £1.3m |
| 2. Di’Shon Bernard | £1.29m |
| 3. Anthony Musaba | £1.2m |
| 4. Barry Bannan | £946k |
| 5. Michael Smith | £946k |
| Sourced by Football Transfers | |
Sheffield Wednesday is hopeful that both of these crucial squad members will remain with the team over the summer and won’t be lured away by significant offers from other clubs. Musaba has demonstrated his value to Rohl’s squad by contributing seven goals and five assists in 43 Championship matches, including scoring the opening goal against West Brom on the penultimate match-day.
Even if Wednesday would like to keep the core of this heroic squad rooted in South Yorkshire, football doesn’t always work like that and there will be plenty of activity in and out of the building this summer that will both damage and enhance the Owls.
Bernard might want to test himself higher up the Championship instead of settling for another potential basement battle, however, with this situation brewing into a tussle for his services consequently.
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