Sheffield Wednesday are facing a huge next couple of months as they fight to stay in the Championship after what has been a campaign of turmoil on and off the pitch.

The Owls have already been through two managers with Garry Monk and Tony Pulis having come and gone. Neil Thompson is at the moment being tasked with helping Sheffield Wednesday get themselves out of trouble at the bottom of the division. He has managed to pick up some crucial results, but a defeat at Luton Town has now left them six points adrift of safety.

A 12-point deduction, that was later reduced down to six has given the Owls a real challenge this term, and other issues with paying players wages at times have not helped matters on the field. However, Sheffield Wednesday do still have some good players that are capable of helping them ensure they survive this term.

Sheffield Wednesday likes most clubs would face huge challenges over balancing the books were they to suffer relegation to League One. They must therefore get the best out of their most influential performers to ensure that does not happen and that they can plan for next term in a better situation in the Championship.

Here, we have put together a list of their 10 highest earners using Salary Sport…

Currently, Sheffield Wednesday’s 10^th highest earner is midfielder Luongo. The 28-year-old is reportedly earning £14,000-a-week or £728,000-a-year at Hillsborough.

Luongo has been a decent signing for the Owls having picked him up from Queens Park Rangers in the summer of 2019. However, he has endured a few injury issues this term that have limited his impact for them this term.

The Owls’ ninth-highest earner at the moment is summer signing Paterson who arrived from Cardiff City. The versatile Scotland international is reportedly earning £17,000-a-week or £884,000-a-year at Hillsborough following his switch from the Welsh side.

Paterson has been used more as a forward by the Owls so far this term, and he has provided them a physical presence up front but not been as prolific as Sheffield Wednesday might have hoped.

Eighth on the list of Sheffield Wednesday’s highest current earners is Derby County loanee Marriott. The forward is reportedly on £18,000-a-week or £936,000 having been signed by the Rams for Peterborough in the summer of 2018.

Marriott’s impact at Hillsborough has been dented by injury issues and he has only just returned to training from a calf problem that has ruled him out for the last few months. He faces an uncertain future in the summer.

The Owls’ current seventh highest-paid player is defender Van Aken, who was singed on a four-year deal from SC Heerenveen in the summer of 2017. The Dutchman is reportedly earning £20,000-a-week or £1,040,000-a-year at Hillsborough.

Van Aken is out of contract in the summer and has already publicly stated that he will be looking for a fresh challenge away from the Owls. He has been something of an expensive mistake you feel.

Sheffield Wednesday’s sixth-highest player at the moment is defender Lees. The Owls stalwart signed a five-year extension to his contract back in 2016 that sees him reportedly earn £22,000-a-week or £1,144,000-a-year.

However, the defender who signed from Leeds back in 2014 is entering the final few months of his current contract. Lees has been offered a new deal by the club but has not signed that at this stage.

Coming in at number five in this list is Reach, who arrived at Hillsborough in a deal worth a reported £5 million from Middlesbrough back in 2016. The versatile midfielder is reportedly earning around £23,000-a-week or £1,196,000-a-year.

Reach’s current deal expires in the summer so it will be interesting to see whether they keep hold of him or not. The attacker has been one of their most creative players so far this term and his time with the club.

Fourth on this list is Chelsea loanee Brown, with the attacker signed in the summer on a season-long loan after an impressive campaign with Luton Town. He is reportedly earning £26,000-a-week or £1,352,000-a-year.

Brown has not lived up to expectations at Hillsborough so far and he has been used more as a squad player than a regular starter. There is however still some time left for him to prove his worth this term and he produced an encouraging display against Luton Town.

The Owls’ third-highest earner at the moment is midfielder Bannan who has only just recently put pen to paper on a new two-year extension. He is reportedly now earning £27,000-a-week or £1,404,000-a-year at Hillsborough.

The midfielder has been a consistent performer for the Owls throughout the last few years and he could be key in helping them get out of trouble this term.

The second most expensive player on Sheffield Wednesday’s books at the moment in terms of salary is goalkeeper Westwood. The experienced stopper signed a new two-year extension back in the summer of 2019 and is reportedly earning around £30-000-a-week or £1,560,000-a-year.

The 36-year-old was brought back into the side from cold by Tony Pulis and has since kept his place under Neil Thompson. However, he is currently out with a rib injury. It will be interesting to see what happens with his future in the summer.

The Owls’ current highest earner is Rhodes, with the forward having been signed from Middlesbrough on an initial loan deal in January 2017 before making a permanent switch for a reported £10 million. He currently earns a reported £35,000-a-week or £1,820,000-a-year.

Rhodes has not justified his price tag at Hillsborough and he is expected to leave the club when his contract expires in the summer. Although he could repay some of his value by helping the Owls stay in the Championship this term.