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Tom Lees urges Sheffield Wednesday to tie Barry Bannan down to long-term deal

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 05 November 2015

Sheffield Wednesday defender Tom Lees heaps praise on teammate Barry Bannan, suggesting that the club must extend his one-year deal or risk losing him for nothing.

Tom Lees has warned Sheffield Wednesday chiefs to tie Barry Bannan down to a long-term contract or risk losing him next summer.

The 25-year-old joined the Owls for an undisclosed fee from Crystal Palace in August on a year-long deal.

Bannan has impressed in midfield for Wednesday so far this season, particularly standing out in the League Cup win over Arsenal, and Lees has now urged the club to extend the player's current terms.

"It is probably a gamble on both sides when you sign a one-year contract with a club," The Yorkshire Post quotes him as saying. "If it doesn't go so well, it is probably in the club's favour. Barry is playing well and I hope we do tie him down.

"It would be important going forward but that's not for me to comment on. When he signed, I knew he had real ability so I was excited to see what he would offer. Straight away it became clear that he was a top player.

"I have been pleasantly hard to see how hard he works off the ball. A lot of players with his ability and his vision and passing, you usually get one side to their game where you have to carry them a bit but not with Barry. His work rate is phenomenal so that's good to see."

Bannan is in the running to be crowned October's Championship Player of the Month, along with Andre Gray, Alan Judge and Paul Robinson.