Sheffield Wednesday will be looking to make a permanent move for defender Harlee Dean this summer, according to a report on Yorkshire Live.

Dean spent the second half of last season on loan for The Owls as they just missed out on promotion back to the Championship.

It is understood the club are monitoring Dean’s situation as they look to bolster their back line in time for the new campaign.

However, the stumbling block for any deal would be the 30-year-old’s wages as he is understood to currently be on around £20,000-a-week.

Dean has been held in high regard by the Owls fans since his move up North. Playing in the middle of the back three, he quickly found his feet in League One before sustaining two separate calf injuries which meant he made only eight starts and one substitute appearance in all competitions.

Dean also featured in both legs of the League One play-off semi-final against Sunderland which ended in heartbreak.

Surplus to requirements, Blues fans will be hoping Dean can be offloaded and more suitable replacements can be brought in with the wages freed up.