"Now is the time" - Clear message sent to Josh Windass amid Sheffield Wednesday exit talk | OneFootball

FLW's Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit would not begrudge Josh Windass a move away this summer.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Sheffield Wednesday forward Josh Windass has been a key player for the club in the Championship this season.

The 31-year-old signed a new contract at Hillsborough last year, which will keep him at the club until this summer, while there is an option of a further one-year extension.

Windass discussed the terms of his current contract during an interview in February, as per The Star, amid speculation that the club was looking to offer him another new deal.

"I think they've been negotiating with my agent since November to be honest," he said.

"The option in my contract, I think, is still more or less up to me whether I stay or not - these options and stuff aren't maybe what people think.

"You've got to do what's best for you and the club aren't just going to keep somebody on who doesn't want to be here."

Brazilian outfit Santos had a bid rejected in January as the Owls made it clear they had no intention of selling Windass, as was exclusively revealed by Football League World, but it appears as though the attacker could now depart this summer.

Dean Windass hinted last week that Sheffield Wednesday's game against Portsmouth on Saturday would be his son's final home game for the club.

Sheffield Wednesday "would miss" Windass

We asked our Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit, Patrick McKenna, whether he would find it disappointing or understandable if Windass leaves the club this summer.

"In regard to Josh Windass, if he does leave in the summer I would totally understand his decision," Patrick said.

"At this stage of his career, he does not have that many years left, so if he is looking to try something new - maybe in the MLS - now is the time to do it.

"Yeah, he has been at Wednesday for a few years now, and he has been one of our top goalscorers this century. He gave us that goal at Wembley which will never be forgotten.

"This season, even though he does, I think, come in for a bit of unfair criticism, his goal and assist contribution combined is one of the top ones this century as well, so I certainly do think we would miss him.

"He is kind of the archetypal big game player and, yeah, he has his off days, but playing for Sheffield Wednesday is no easy task.

"I think we are coming to a situation where his eye is looking at a move away from Hillsborough. It would be a move that I would have no animosity towards, and I would wish him well, and I hope he gets the end to his career that he is aspiring to.

"I just hope if he does go - and it looks like he will go - we will replace Windass because we are certainly a better team with him than we are without him."

Sheffield Wednesday must replace Windass

The 31-year-old has made 75 goal contributions during his six-season spell in South Yorkshire, so it is imperative that the club finds a suitable replacement if he does leave this summer.