2021/22 ended in cruel fashion for Sheffield Wednesday.

Having greatly improved in the second half of their League One campaign, the Owls finished fourth in the division, and were looking like they could bounce back to the Championship at the first time of asking.

However, they met Sunderland in the play-off semi-finals who had second-tier ambitions of their own, knocking the Owls out with an injury time goal during the second leg of their semi-final.

It was no doubt a bitter pill to swallow for Darren Moore and his players, but they must go again next season.

As we already know, a number of players will be leaving Hillsborough this summer, with the likes of Saido Berahino, Chey Dunkley and Sam Hutchinson having already been released, and more potentially following, with a few contract negotiations rumbling on.

Recruitment, then, could be key to the Owls’ chances of achieving promotion next campaign and being a big club at this level, Sheffield Wednesday should be looking to take advantage of their status.

With that being said, here, we’ve picked out some players from the third tier that could be of interest to the Owls in the transfer market this summer.

With Bailey Peacock-Farrell set to return to Burnley following his Hillsborough loan spell, one area Sheffield Wednesday may look to strengthen this summer is their goalkeeping department.

One player they could target, and reportedly are, is Wycombe Wanderers keeper David Stockdale.

Stockdale made 52 appearances for Wycombe in all competitions throughout the 2021/22 campaign as the club reached the League One play-off final. In those matches, the 36-year-old kept 20 clean sheets.

With his contract due to expire this summer, Stockdale is available on a free transfer.

Another player from the third-tier that Sheffield Wednesday and Darren Moore could target in the transfer market this summer is Aiden McGeady.

McGeady is 36-years-old and set to be released by Sunderland at the end of the month, but can still offer an attacking threat at this level.

This campaign, the former Republic of Ireland international was struck by injury long-term, but his seven direct goal contributions in his 14 League One appearances show what an attacking threat he can still be at this level.

Obviously, the big gamble here is on McGeady's fitness, but he could be a punt worth taking for Darren Moore's side.

With Chey Dunkley and Sam Hutchinson having been released by the club this summer, another area that Sheffield Wednesday will be looking for re-enforcements is in central defence.

As such, another man they could target from the third tier is Rotherham United's Angus MacDonald.

MacDonald had an injury hit campaign in 2021/22, but has previously shown that he can hold his own at Championship level, never mind in League One.

He is set to leave Rotherham United this summer, and perhaps Sheffield Wednesday could convince him to make the short trip to the Steel City on a free transfer.

Another central defender that the Owls could target is AFC Wimbledon centre-half Ben Heneghan.

The 28-year-old made 47 appearances in all competitions for the Dons in 2021/22, but could not help prevent them from being relegated to the fourth tier.

He is set to leave the club this summer on a free transfer, and there have been some reports that Darren Moore and the Sheffield Wednesday hierarchy have been eyeing a move.

One of the more valuable central defenders in the division, Heneghan would certainly come in and strengthen the Owls' backline.

Another valuable League One centre-half that the club should consider a move for this summer is Shrewsbury Town's Matthew Pennington.

The 27-year-old joined the Shrews permanently after he left Everton last summer following a loan spell in 20/21, and is contracted until 2023, so this one may be slightly harder to get done than the aforementioned centre-backs.

However, it could be a fee worth paying.

Pennington is an experienced operator at this level having racked up 110 League One appearances to date, and he also has experience of playing higher up the pyramid, too, with 68 Championship appearances to his name.

As such, he could be a signing that Wednesday could use in League One, and then again in the Championship were they to win promotion.

Another League One player that Darren Moore could target this summer is Plymouth Argyle midfielder Panutche Camara.

With Massimo Luongo's contract situation unclear, re-enforcements in central midfield could be needed, and Camara has shown he is a top League One player.

With one year remaining on his Argyle contract, the 25-year-old has been transfer listed due to being unwilling to sign a new deal at the club.

Wednesday could take full advantage of this and swoop to secure his signature.

Recently released former Ipswich Town midfielder Tom Carroll could be another central midfield target Sheffield Wednesday could realistically target this summer.

The 30-year-old would represent somewhat of a gamble given his recent injury record, but, there is real quality there.

The central midfielder has racked up 94 Premier League appearances in his career and you do not do that unless you are a good player.

Things haven't quite worked out over the past two seasons for Carroll, but a fresh start at Hillsborough could be just what the player needs.

Last but not least, the final League One player that Sheffield Wednesday could realistically target this summer is Cheltenham Town's Alfie May.

May had a tremendous campaign in 2021/22 and could ease some of the goalscoring burden that was placed on Lee Gregory last season.

The 28-year-old scored 26 goals in all competitions for Cheltenham this past season, and he is likely to be a man in demand this summer.

It has been reported it would take a six-figure fee to tempt Cheltenham to sell, but it may be worth it if he is the man to fire the Owls back to the Championship.