Sheffield Wednesday are a club with a rich history in terms of playing staff, turning out many an international player, especially during a successful spell during the 90's, when players such as David Hirst, Chris Waddle, and Roland Nilsson were part of the playing squad.

Up until this season though, they have been pretty stale in both the transfer market and production of saleable assets, as they have fought between promotions and relegations from League One and the Championship.

Things are looking up for the Owls though now under new ownership, and they sit comfortably in the top six of England's second tier.

They have just enjoyed yet another productive transfer window which saw them bring in Gary Hooper and Aiden McGeady, and look all set to make a real fist of things as we enter the final run of the season.

One thing Owls fans will be hoping for though, regardless of how they finish the season, will be that they keep hold of their better players and resist the lures of any bids in the summer.

Wednesday have a long list of players who fans will look back on and regret the club ever selling them, not to mention not signing Eric Cantona as coaching staff had not seen him play on grass.

Here at FLW, we have taken a look at FIVE players the Owls will have definitely regretted selling for one reason or another.......

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PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE FIVE PLAYERS!

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Darko Kovacevic

Although the Serbian was deemed pretty much a flop following a move from Red Star Belgrade, few can doubt what he went on to achieve following his departure from Hillsborough, as well as the big fees which followed.

Kovacevic left Hillsborough for Sociedad for around £5m, and quickly hit form for the Spaniards, earning a £12m move to Juventus. Another similar fee followed as he moved to fellow Italian Giants Lazio, before eventually moving again to Sociedad for another fee around the £12m mark.

The big striker was a massive success in Spain, averaging nearly a goal in every 2 games and went on to gain over 60 caps for his country. He finished his career with Olympiakos, where he was also a roaring success, and Owls fans will be left wondering what might have been.

Kovacevic is definitely a player who could have done more in the English game given the chance, and it can be argued it is another example of a player being sold too soon by an English club.

Paulo Di Canio

The fiery Italian forward was sold by the Owls for a cut price £1.5m in 1999 to a more than happy West Ham United side.

It would prove to the move which would define most of Di Canio's career, as he went on to become a firm fan favourite with the Hammers, becoming a regular goalscorer and club captain in the process.

While at West Ham he went on to win the clubs player of the year award, while also scoring a goal which would be voted the Premier League goal of the century by Sky Sports viewers in a poll in 2009.

Di Canio was arguably more famous at Hillsborough for shoving over referee Paul Alcock resulting in an 11 game ban, but there is no denying the talent that was always there. At £1.5m, the transfer fee ended up being a snip for the Hammers, prompting even Sir Alex Ferguson to try and sign him for Man United.

Di Canio is still revered on the stands at Hillsborough for his short but exciting time with the club, and is a player they will definitely regretted getting rid of when they did.

Dan Petrescu

The Owls let the little Romanian leave after 1 season to join Chelsea, and he went on to become a roaring success at Stamford Bridge, amassing over 150 appearances and winning numerous trophies during his time there.

Petrescu made 95 appearances for his country too, as well as appearing in World Cups and proving to be  a solid player across his entire career.

The Owls meanwhile never quite replaced him, and were left to the rue a decision to allow such a quality player to leave so cheaply and quickly.

Petrescu was certainly a quality player, and often a fan favourite with his all energy displays and quality on the ball. He went on to represent Southampton and Bradford in less successful spells during his career, but in the main, he was a top quality full back who in his prime would have walked in to most teams of the era.

Glenn Whelan

Whelan spent four seasons at Hillsborough in the mid 2000s and was a roaring success, winning multiple player of the year awards for the Owls as his consistency shone through in his performances.

However, the Owls sold Whelan to Stoke City for a lowly fee of £500,000 in 2008, and the Irishman is still holding down a regular place in the side to this day.

Whelan has been a strong player for the Potters, and was a key man for ex manager Tony Pulis as he got them promoted to the Premiership before securing their status as a consistent Premier League club.

It is a testament to Whelan and his performances that new manager Mark Hughes continues to select him in and among a host of new foreign imports and big money signings.

Whelan's form even forced Steven N'Zonzi to seek pastures new, and he continues to impress as he enters the final years of an illustrious career.

Benito Carbone

The little Italian playmaker signed for the Owls for £3m from Inter Milan and proved to be a roaring success in his time at Hillsborough.

He had the knack for the spectacular goals, and offered energy and skill in his performance which got the Owls crowd off their feet on more than one occasion during games.

However, he was sold to Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee without ever really getting the chance to continue that form which had endeared him to fans hearts and he would go on to be a success at both Villa Park and later Bradford City.

Successful loan spells with both Middlesbrough and Derby County would also follow, before he continued and finished his career back in his homeland, again performing admirably.

Carbone might not have been at Hillsborough for too long, but fans will definitely have wanted to see more of the skilful Italian man, and will have been disappointed to see him go after such a short stint with the club.

Owls fans, do you agree with these choices? Who else do you regret selling? Let us know below!