Leicester City have joined Preston North End in the race to sign Sheffield Wednesday left-back Max Lowe.
The 28-year-old is thought to be one of the players who have handed in their notices due to unpaid wages, according to Talksport’s Chief Football Correspondent Alex Crook.
Recently relegated Leicester are currently managerless, have yet to make a signing and could face a potential points deduction if they are found to have broken PSR Rules.
Journalist Alan Nixon reported yesterday that Championship rivals North End are also chasing Lowe’s signature.
Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester City Having Difficult Summers
Sheffield Wednesday are yet another EFL club who have experienced issues with ownership of the club, with owner Dejphon Chansiri failing to support the club financially and run the club properly on multiple occasions, leading to unpaid player wages and multiple points deductions throughout the years.
Yet again, the club have failed to pay players’ wages, meaning the club face charges and are under investigation from the EFL.
There are not only questions surrounding manager Danny Röhl’s future at Hillsborough, but also of the players’ futures as well, with multiple players, including Lowe, thought to have given their notice in at the club, which means they are available on free transfers.
FIFA regulations say that any player who has not received their wages on time for two consecutive months can cancel their contract with written notice. The club involved then have 15 days to pay the player in full, or the player is free to leave.
There has been news of a takeover at Hillsborough; however, if the wage problem is not fixed soon, multiple players will be walking away for free.
Leicester City could also find themselves in trouble financially after relegation from the Premier League. According to the Mirror, the Foxes are at risk of a 12-point minimum point deduction after breaching profit and sustainability rules by £17 million between the years of 2021-24.
Like Wednesday, the club are also yet to make any signings before the 2025/26 campaign, which kicks off in just under a month’s time. There was also a lengthy delay over former manager Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s departure, with the club yet to appoint a successor.
Max Lowe and his Promotion Record
Lowe earned back-to-back Championship promotions during the 2021/22 and the 2022/23 seasons with two different clubs.
The first promotion came whilst on loan at Nottingham Forest, through the play-offs, where he made 20 appearances in the league, and one appearance in the play-offs.
Controversially, the second club Lowe achieved promotion with was Steel City rivals Sheffield United, playing 26 times in the Championship and finishing second the very next season.
Preston North End’s Busy Window
Unlike the other two clubs on this list, Preston are not currently facing any financial issues, and have already been active in this window.
Five new players have arrived at Deepdale, including the likes of Thierry Small from Charlton Athletic and Odel Offiah from Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion for undisclosed fees. Former Wednesday player Pol Valentin has already made the switch between the two clubs this summer, with Jordan Thompson and loanee Daniel Jebbison completing the set of signings so far.
Managing to secure the services of Lowe, beating competition from a promotion favourite, would send a clear message to the rest of the league.
Writer’s View
If the Owls don’t get their takeover completed quickly and smoothly, they will struggle in the second tier next season. The 28-year-old wanting to leave is just one case in what could be many more behind the scenes. With the lack of things going on behind the scenes at Leicester, they may face the same fate, especially with a big points deduction.
Lowe has a big decision to make regarding his future. Does he go to a club that will be aiming for promotion, but that has obvious issues, stay at Sheffield Wednesday, in the hope that the new takeover is successful, or join Preston, a club with less ambition, but no off-the-pitch issues.
