'There's a feeling he may be heading for the door': The inside track on Sheffield Wednesday's Kadeem Harris following Middlesbrough links
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Harris, 27, will see his contract at Hillsborough expire this summer, while it’s also been claimed Watford, Stoke and Reading are tracking the player.
We caught up with Wednesday reporter Alex Miller from our sister title the Sheffield Star to learn more about the situation.
1. What is Harris’ situation at Wednesday?
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Hide AdAM: “It's a little shrouded in mystery, but what we know for absolute sure is that Harris' two-year contract with Wednesday is up in the summer. He told us last month that there has been talk about a new contract offer at Hillsborough but stopped well short of confirming one had been tabled.
“We know that Tom Lees, Adam Reach and Osaze Urhoghide have definitely been offered deals, the silence from Harris' end is a little conspicuous.
“He's 27 and it’s no secret that clubs including Boro are predictably interested in him. Regardless of Wednesday's divisional status, there's a feeling he may well be heading for the door.”
2. What type of player is Harris?
AM: “He's a direct, explosive winger with good balance. Small in stature, he has a real turn of pace and loves to cross from the byline.
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Hide Ad“He's been at his best when playing as an out-and-out winger and has suffered a touch being moved about as a wing-back under Garry Monk, where he performed well but struggled to get forward regularly enough. The fact is that for all his promise and danger, he lacks slightly when it comes to the final ball.
“Harris' first six weeks or so at Wednesday were incredible, but that was a while ago now and he's not been able to keep that standard up.“
3. How has Harris performed this season?
AM: “He's certainly not been one of Wednesday's weaker performers. Has he been one of the best? I'm not sure.
“In 30 appearances this season he has yet to score and has three assists - hardly ground-breaking numbers for a player in his position. After that blistering start to his Owls career, his assist at home to Boro on the last day of last season was his first goal contribution in 25 matches.
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Hide Ad“He's one of many Wednesday players to have suffered from endless managerial and system changes, but however much endeavour is shown, the numbers aren't on his side.”
4. How is the player viewed among Wednesday supporters?
AM: “He's frustrating more than anything. There's so much potential there, he has all the attributes, but you just wonder if time is running out for him to make good on that.
“There aren't too many universally popular players in this Owls squad and Harris isn't unpopular, but there's definitely an acceptance that he's sometimes wasteful of the positions he gets himself into.”
5. Do you think there will be more Championship clubs interested?
AM: “Without doubt. With the market as it is, with post-Brexit immigration laws having cut off some other recruitment avenues available to clubs, a 27-year-old winger with Championship and Premier League experience will no doubt attract fluttering eyelids.
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Hide Ad“He's got experience of playing under Neil Warnock at Cardiff and the two clearly have a mutual respect.”