Michael Smith off: The 5 Sheffield Wednesday players set to leave next summer if nothing changes | OneFootball

It is a big summer for Sheffield Wednesday after they secured survival in the Championship.

The Owls looked destined to make an immediate return to League One after a disastrous start to the season under Xisco Munoz, but they achieved safety after a remarkable turnaround under Danny Rohl as they finished 20th in the table.

There had been fears among Wednesday supporters that the club could lose Rohl this summer, but the German signed a new long-term contract at Hillsborough last week, and it is set to be a busy few months as he looks to rebuild his squad.

Loanees James Beadle, Kristian Pedersen, Jeff Hendrick, Momo Diaby, Ian Poveda, Ike Ugbo and Ashley Fletcher have returned to their parent clubs, while Ciaran Brennan, Reece James, George Byers, Tyreeq Bakinson, Juan Delgado and Lee Gregory have been released at the end of their contracts.

Cameron Dawson, Dominic Iorfa, Di'Shon Bernard, Will Vaulks and Josh Windass have all been offered new deals, and Rohl will be hoping that they follow Pierce Charles, Liam Palmer and Barry Bannan in committing their future to the club.

The length of Charles, Palmer and Bannan's new contracts is unknown, but it is a big boost for the Owls to tie down one of their most exciting academy products, and two of their most important senior players.

Having had a significant number of players out of contract this summer, Wednesday will be keen to avoid a repeat of that situation at the end of next season.

However, there are some players who are set to enter the final year of their contracts at Hillsborough, and we looked at who will be leaving on a free next summer as things stand.

Akin Famewo

Defender Famewo joined Wednesday from Norwich City in the summer of 2022, and he helped the Owls to promotion from League One during his first season at the club.

Famewo missed Wednesday's dramatic play-off campaign with injury, but after returning to fitness in the summer, and he was a regular at the start of the season under Munoz.

The 25-year-old is a centre-back by trade, but with Reece James and Marvin Johnson out of favour, he was deployed at left-back by Munoz in the early weeks of the season, and he did not look out of place in an unfamiliar position.

After Johnson was reintroduced to the fold by Rohl, Famewo was moved back to the heart of the defence, and he continued to be a key player under the 35-year-old, making 39 appearances in all competitions this season.

Famewo's development in the last two years since his arrival at Hillsborough is clear to see, and the Owls will likely be keen to tie him down to a longer-term deal ahead of his contract expiring next summer.

Pol Valentin

If there was an award for Wednesday's most improved player this season, Valentin would certainly win it.

The defender joined the Owls from Spanish side Sporting Gijon last summer, and after an impressive first start for the club in the 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough in September, he struggled to kick on.

Valentin lost his place shortly after Rohl's arrival, but he was restored to the team over the festive period, and he went on to cement himself as Wednesday's first choice right-back.

The 27-year-old's tireless work rate and commitment has made him a firm favourite among Owls supporters, and while he is yet to get off the mark for the club, he offers a useful attacking threat down the right.

Valentin made 40 appearances in all competitions for Wednesday this campaign, and he will surely be a regular once again next season.

Marvin Johnson

Winger Johnson made the move to Hillsborough from Middlesbrough in August 2021, and he scored three goals and provided 14 assists in 51 appearances to help Wednesday to promotion from League One in the 2022-23 season.

However, despite his excellent contribution the previous season, Johnson was surprisingly frozen out by Munoz at the start of the campaign, and he was not included in the matchday squad at all during the Spaniard's brief tenure.

Much to the delight of Owls supporters, Johnson immediately returned to training following Rohl's appointment, and he became a key player once again after his return to the team.

Johnson started almost every game when available under Rohl, and he played a crucial role in the Owls' survival, scoring four goals and providing four assists in 30 appearances in all competitions.

The 33-year-old was the subject of interest from Ipswich Town in both the summer and January transfer windows, but Wednesday managed to keep hold of him, and they have activated their option to extend his contract by a further year.

Callum Paterson

Paterson joined the Owls from Cardiff City in September 2020, and he has been a key player for the club over the last four years.

The 29-year-old's versatility is a huge asset for Wednesday, and he has played in a host of different positions during his time at Hillsborough, including centre-back, right-back, central midfield, as a winger and as a striker.

Paterson provided two assists in 27 appearances in an injury-disrupted campaign this season, but his importance to the team was underlined by the fact the Owls went unbeaten in their final six games after his return from a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

The Scotsman has made over 150 appearances in a Wednesday shirt so far, and after the club activated their option to extend his contract by a further year, he will be hoping to stay clear of injury and contribute to a much-improved season next term.

Michael Smith

Striker Smith arrived at Hillsborough from Rotherham United in June 2022, and he played a crucial role in Wednesday's promotion from League One in the 2022-23 campaign, scoring 20 goals and registering eight assists in 49 games in all competitions.

However, Smith's game time became limited in the Championship under both Munoz and Rohl, and he was linked with a move away from the club in the January transfer window.

According to BBC Derby Sport, Derby County made a loan offer for Smith in January, including a "significant wage contribution", but Wednesday were said to be "demanding an excessive fee in return".

Smith remained at the club, and while he was not a regular starter in the second half of the season, he did play an important role in the Owls' survival, with his physicality and aerial threat proving useful as Rohl took a more direct approach at times.