"Real possibility" - Josh Windass, Michael Smith discussed amid Sheffield Wednesday transfer prediction | OneFootball

The Owls could see a number of names depart Hillsborough 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 will still harbour faint hopes of breaking into the Championship play-off places this season, with the Owls sitting six points outside the top six with 12 league games remaining in the campaign.

The Danny Rohl revolution continues to rumble on at Hillsborough, with Wednesday upwardly mobile under the charismatic German, with a number of star performers catching the eye.

The Steel City side are walking into the unknown when it comes to the summer though, with the potential for a number of players to leave the club, while Rohl’s future isn’t exactly set in stone, given reported issues with owner Dejphon Chansiri around the turn of the year.

With much to consider, we spoke to Football League World’s Wednesday fan pundit Patrick McKenna about his predictions for the upcoming transfer window, and who he can see waving goodbye to Hillsborough for good.

Sheffield Wednesday future discussed as summer transfer window looms

Shea Charles, James Beadle, Liam Palmer all feature in conversations

Like so many sides in the Championship, the Owls have made great use of the loan market this season, with James Beadle and Shea Charles proving their worth in a side that has more than held its own in the second tier.

The pair will return to Southampton and Brighton respectively in the summer, while nine players are set to come to the end of their current contracts, including Hillsborough heroes Callum Patterson and Liam Palmer.

Academy graduate Palmer is approaching his 400th league game for the club, while Patterson is closing in on 150 matches in the league for Wednesday, having joined the club from Cardiff back in the summer of 2020.

The pair stand alongside the likes of Barry Bannan, Marvin Johnson, Anthony Musaba and Akin Famewo as stars who are currently in the last few months of their contract with the club, with McKenna unsure on what the future holds for a number of his club’s talents.

When asked who could leave this summer, the Wednesday fan said: “Obviously, Shea Charles’ loan will end and I can’t see him coming back. James Beadle’s loan ends as well. I suppose there may be a slim chance of him coming back, but I don’t think we should plan goalkeeping positions next season around him coming back.

“Then you would have to look at players who have been loyal and stalwarts at the club, such as Callum Paterson and Liam Palmer. In the summer I could maybe see them leaving.

“It could be any case that he won’t be given a new contract from whatever manager is in charge, or in Paterson’s case, he may want to go somewhere where he is guaranteed more football.”

Josh Windass, Michael Smith Sheffield Wednesday departures considered

Two players who have been the centre of transfer interest over the past year are Josh Windass and Michael Smith.

Windass was said to be wanted by Brazilian club Santos over the January transfer window, while Smith has been a long-term target of League One hotshot's Wrexham, although both have remained in Yorkshire to play a part in the upward curve at Hillsborough right now.

With the uncertainty of what lies ahead, McKenna isn’t ruling out a departure for either player in the next few months, with Smith among those set to be out of contract on July 1.

“Sometimes it is hard to read into it, but there is always speculation that Josh Windass could leave, so there you would have to look at that as a real possibility he could leave in the summer.

“I don’t think any player should be looking to leave, but I suppose in the case of Paterson, Palmer and Windass, I wouldn’t exactly begrudge them leaving as they have been great servants to the club.

“Of course, possibly Michael Smith. There were rumours around him last summer and they will likely raise their head once again.”

The Wednesday fan also wouldn’t be averse to offloading a number of misfits in the playing squad right now, with two arrivals from last summer seeming failing to make the grade.

He added: “Then there is the forgotten players, looking at Charlie McNeill and Olaf Kobacki, I could see one or even both going in the summer. They have been written off as failed, low-level signings.

“I think as well, it can depend on the manager in charge, so if it is not Danny Rohl in the dugout come the start of next season, they will come in and assess what they have got.”