Sheffield Wednesday face big decisions with the 5 players set to leave Hillsborough next year | OneFootball

We looked at whether Sheffield Wednesday should keep or offload the five players who are out of contract in the summer.

Sheffield Wednesday will be hoping for a much-improved campaign in the Championship this season.

Wednesday narrowly avoided relegation last season following a remarkable turnaround under Danny Rohl, and there is plenty of hope that they can climb the table in the year ahead.

It was a busy summer transfer window for the Owls, with 11 new players arriving at Hillsborough, and many of the new additions have made a positive impact in the first few months of the season.

As well as the big influx of signings, Wednesday also tied a number of their stars down to new deals, with Liam Palmer, Dominic Iorfa, Di'Shon Bernard, Barry Bannan and Josh Windass all committing their futures to the club, and it means they will avoid a repeat of the scenario this summer that saw an incredible 19 players out of contract.

However, the Owls do still have five players who are now in the final year of their current contracts, and we looked at whether they should be offered an extension or offloaded in the summer.

Pol Valentin - Keep

Defender Pol Valentin made the move to Wednesday from Spanish side Sporting Gijon last summer, and he made 40 appearances in all competitions last season.

Valentin endured a tough start to his Owls career, but after being restored to the team over the festive period, he was one of the club's most improved players over the course of the campaign.

The 27-year-old's place came under threat at the start of this season following the signing of Yan Valery from Angers, but he has been a regular once again in recent weeks, and his performances have contributed to Wednesday's upturn in form.

Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv reportedly had a bid for Valentin rejected in September, and the Owls are said to be looking to offer him an improved contract, which would be a deserved reward for the defender.

Defender Akin Famewo joined Wednesday from Norwich City in the summer of 2022, and he has been an important player for the club over the last two years.

After missing the start of this season with injury, Famewo had been establishing himself as an integral part of the Owls' defence on the left side of a back three in recent weeks, but he suffered another setback in the 2-1 win at Portsmouth last week that is expected to keep him out for "months".

Given his impressive recent displays, Famewo is undoubtedly a big loss for Wednesday, but it will not change the club's stance on his future, and like Valentin, they are reportedly keen to tie him down to a new contract.

Famewo has always been a consistent and reliable performer during his time at Hillsborough, but he has taken his game to another level under Rohl, and the Owls should look to reach an agreement with the 25-year-old as soon as possible.

Marvin Johnson - Keep

Marvin Johnson made the move to Wednesday from Middlesbrough in August 2021, and the Owls exercised an option to keep him at Hillsborough for a further year this summer, completing an incredible turnaround in fortunes for the winger.

Despite playing a crucial role in his side's promotion from League One in the 2022-23 campaign, Johnson was surprisingly frozen out by former manager Xisco Munoz at the start of last season, but he was immediately brought back into the fold by Rohl, and he went on to score four goals and provide four assists in 30 appearances.

Johnson lost his place in the team at the start of this season after the signing of Max Lowe from Sheffield United, but he was quickly brought back into the starting line-up, and he has thrived in a left-wing back role in recent weeks.

Given that Johnson will be 34 next summer, Rohl may have some reservations about offering him a new deal, but he is still a quality performer at Championship level, and he has certainly done enough to earn another extension.

Callum Paterson - Offload

Callum Paterson joined Wednesday from Cardiff City in September 2020, and he has been an incredibly useful player for the club over the last four years, playing in a host of different positions, including centre-back, wing-back, central midfield and up front.

Paterson registered two assists in 27 appearances last season, and after he played an important role in his side's survival following his return to fitness towards the end of the campaign, the Owls triggered their option to keep the 30-year-old at Hillsborough for a further year this summer.

However, Paterson has found himself out of favour at the start of this season, and it was claimed in August that he was free to depart if the club received a suitable offer.

Paterson has been included in the matchday squad a little more frequently in recent weeks, and he captained Wednesday in their EFL Cup game at Brentford on Tuesday night, which could suggest that Rohl's stance on the Scot has changed, but with his game time likely to remain limited over the coming months, it would make little sense to offer him a new contract in the summer.

Michael Smith - Offload

Striker Michael Smith joined Wednesday from Rotherham United in the summer of 2022, and he played a crucial role in his side's promotion from League One in the 2022-23 campaign, scoring 20 goals and registering eight assists in 49 games.

Smith's minutes became more restricted in the Championship, and after he scored just four goals in 34 appearances last season, it was widely assumed that he would be leaving the club this summer, with ambitious League One side Wrexham said to have been among those who were keen.

However, with the likes of Ike Ugbo and Jamal Lowe struggling for form this season, Smith has played a much bigger role than many had expected, and his stunning long-range winner at Portsmouth last week highlighted his increasing importance to the team.