Sheffield Wednesday have had one of their best summer transfer windows in recent years.
The Owls faced significant uncertainty at the end of the last season with the threat of relegation looming. However, Danny Röhl managed to keep Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship, paving the way for a wave of contract renewals and new signings.
Barry Bannan and Liam Palmer were the first to commit their futures to the club, followed by Dominic Iorfa and Josh Windass. However, fans were particularly anxious about the future of Di’Shon Bernard, who had flown to the United States for the Copa America.
Although Wednesday planned to resume contract talks with Bernard upon his return, supporters grew more concerned when he posted a picture of his suitcase. The mood shifted dramatically when it was confirmed last week that Bernard had signed a new deal.
Röhl was never worried about Di’Shon Bernard’s commitment
Despite fans’ worries, Röhl maintained confidence that Bernard would remain at Hillsborough. Speaking to BBC Radio Sheffield, Röhl said, “That was a long way to go, there are different reasons. One reason was of course the tournament. We had this agreement before and I said to him go to the tournament and try your best, really just focus on the tournament.
“Before this tournament, we were still in contact and even during the tournament, I wrote some messages after some games, but we didn’t speak about the future until he came back. Yeah, I think it was really clear that both sides want to do the next step together. We have a good relationship. I know him, I know his potential. I see a lot of good things from him. I think his level is not achieved at the moment, as there is a lot of space for him to improve. We bring a lot of tools with us and it was a big, big part to bring him back to Wednesday. I think it was good to see and yeah, I’m very happy.”
Where would Sheffield Wednesday be without Röhl?
While Wednesday did lose Will Vaulks this summer, they have otherwise managed to secure their key players and significantly strengthen the squad. Though it was unclear how much interest Bernard had from other clubs, he undoubtedly would have had several Championship options had he chosen to leave.
His decision to stay at Hillsborough reflects the progress the club has made under Röhl’s leadership. If Röhl had departed, it seems likely Bernard would have also left, but the 35-year-old manager has been crucial in retaining talent and attracting new players to the club.