Sheffield Wednesday stars Forestieri and Hutchinson sign new deals

(Picture: Action Images via Reuters)

Sheffield Wednesday playmaker Fernando Forestieri and influential midfielder Sam Hutchinson have both put pen to paper on bumper new deals at the club.

Forestieri, signed by the Hillsborough outfit in August 2015 for a believed fee of £3 million from Watford, has extended his stay with the Owls until at least the end of the 2019-20 season.

It is a massive boost for the Owls, who fought off intense interest from Newcastle United in the summer to keep hold of their Italian magician.

Forestieri also refused to play during the transfer speculation, but as far Carlos Carvalhal is concerned, that is all in the past, and the the Owls boss told the club’s website: “What great news in 2017!

“All the time Fernando, as I have always said in the press, is very happy since the beginning.

“He wants to play for Sheffield Wednesday, he wants to stay here and it’s amazing news.

“We are happy that he has extended his contract, he is a player that has had a big game impact on games and he has scored a lot of goals in one year and a half.”

With 21 goals in 61 games, Forestieri is Wednesday’s undoubted star, but Hutchinson signing a new deal is equally important to the club.

Tough tackling midfielder Sam Hutchinson has also signed a new contract until 2020 (Picture: Action Images via Reuters)

A midfield enforcer, Hutchinson joined the Owls from boyhood club Chelsea in 2014, and has gone on to make 68 appearances for the team.

Despite also deputising well in defence, it is in the centre of midfield where Hutchinson has made his name for the club, and those who herald him as a fan’s favourite will be delighted he is staying until 2020.

Wednesday remain heavily linked with Jordan Rhodes, but will be hard pushed to do much better business than tying two of their biggest stars down on new deals.

With one defeat in nine going into Saturday’s game with Huddersfield, and two of their key men committing their futures to the club, the Owls will be full of confidence going into the derby as they try and strengthen their position in the play-offs.