Sheffield Wednesday target Lewis Richards profiled as Darren Moore looks to bolster defence

Sheffield Wednesday could address their defensive concerns with the signing of Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Lewis Richards. The 20-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at League Two outfit Harrogate Town, but a move hampered by injury yielded just eight appearances for the Sulphurites.

That short time was enough to convince the fourth-tier side to look at another loan deal, but if Wednesday want to move for the versatile defender then they will likely lead the race. Darren Moore will no doubt be prioritising defensive reinforcements, having lost Chey Dunkley, Jordan Storey and Harlee Dean already, and will favour a player with Richards’ versatility.

Wolves will look to loan the young defender out for another season as he continues his development, and the fact that they want to keep him on their books says a lot about his potential. And after a brief spell at League Two, it may be time for a step up into the third-tier.

And with interest gaining momentum, YorkshireLive have all you need to know about Wednesday’s latest target.

The 20-year-old is currently part of Wolves’ youth setup after signing from Brentford in 2016 - the year they disbanded their academy and switched to a ‘B Team’ format.

Richards spent the majority of his time at Molineux in the under-21s side and has also represented the Republic of Ireland at under-19 and under-21 level.

He featured in Europa League matchday squads against Besiktas and Sevilla but is yet to make his senior debut for the Midlands club, and spent the second half of last season at Harrogate Town where he made eight appearances.

The answer to this question is also one of the answers as to why Moore is so interested. Richards is a left-footed defender, but his