Sheffield Wednesday: If nothing happens, these 5 players are going to leave Hillsborough | OneFootball

We looked at which players at set to leave Sheffield Wednesday at the end of their contracts this summer as things stand.

It has been a season of progress for Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship, but there is significant uncertainty hanging over the club heading into the summer.

After narrowly avoiding relegation last season, Wednesday have emerged as surprise play-off contenders this campaign under Danny Rohl, but it looks as though they may fall just short of a top six place.

Owls supporters should be going into the summer full of optimism that their side can continue to climb the table under Rohl next season, but Southampton have reportedly identified the German as their top target to replace Ivan Juric in the summer, and he is widely expected to make a return to St Mary's, where he previously served as assistant to Ralph Hasenhuttl.

In addition to the fears over Rohl's future, discontent towards owner Dejphon Chansiri is building once again after he failed to pay the players' March wages on time, citing cashflow problems as the reason behind the delay, and that has raised question marks over the club's long-term financial sustainability.

With a number of players coming to the end of their contracts, whoever is in charge of Wednesday this summer is likely to be facing a big rebuilding job, and we looked at who will be leaving the club as things stand and whether they should be kept or offloaded.

Pol Valentin - Keep

Defender Pol Valentin joined Wednesday from Spanish side Sporting Gijon in the summer of 2023, and he endured a nightmare start to his time at Hillsborough as he struggled to adapt to the Championship.

However, Valentin was arguably the Owls' most-improved player over the course of last season, and he ended up playing a crucial role in the club's survival, making 40 appearances in all competitions.

Despite his place coming under threat following the arrival of Yan Valery in the summer, Valentin has continued to feature regularly for Wednesday this season, although he has perhaps not made as many starts as he would have liked in recent months.

After Maccabi Tel Aviv had a bid rejected for Valentin in September, it was claimed that the Owls were keen to reach an agreement with the 28-year-old over a new contract, and he has certainly done enough to earn an extension.

Akin Famewo - Keep

Akin Famewo made the move to Wednesday from Norwich City in the summer of 2022, and while he has not always been a regular starter during his time at Hillsborough, Rohl is known to be a big admirer of the defender.

After establishing himself in the team, Famewo produced his best form in an Owls shirt at the start of this season before sustaining a muscle injury in late October that ruled him out for over five months.

Famewo recently made his return from injury, and he will be hoping to impress over the coming weeks in order to secure a new contract, but a decision on his future already looks to have been made, with Wednesday believed to be keen to tie him down to an extension.

The 26-year-old's injury seems to have put those expected contract talks on hold, but now he is back to full fitness, the Owls should do everything possible to keep him in South Yorkshire.

Marvin Johnson - Release

Winger Marvin Johnson joined Wednesday on a free transfer from Middlesbrough in the summer of 2021, and he will go down as one of the club's best bargains of recent years.

Johnson played a crucial role as the Owls won promotion from League One via the play-offs in the 2022-23 season, but he was surprisingly frozen out by former manager Xisco Munoz last summer, much to the frustration of supporters.

The 34-year-old was immediately brought back into the fold by Rohl after he took over at Hillsborough, and he scored four goals and provided four assists in 30 appearances to help keep Wednesday in the Championship last season.

However, Johnson has not quite been able to make the same attacking impact this season, and his defending has occasionally come in for criticism, so while it will be a tough decision to release him, it may be time for him to move on this summer.

Callum Paterson - Keep

Callum Paterson made the switch to Hillsborough from Cardiff City in September 2020, and he has been an incredibly useful member of the Wednesday squad over the past few years.

Paterson has played in a host of positions for the Owls, including right-back, centre-back, wing-back, central midfield and up front, and his committed and all-action performances have made him a firm fan favourite.

It seemed as though Paterson's days at Wednesday were numbered as he struggled for game time at the start of the season, and it was even claimed in August that he was free to depart if the club received a suitable offer, but much to his credit, he has forced his way back into Rohl's plans in recent months.

Paterson has confirmed that he would like to stay at the club beyond the summer, and while some feel that the Owls need to let the 30-year-old go if they are to truly progress in the Championship, there is a strong argument to keep him around for another year, particularly considering the important goals this season he has chipped in with this season.

Michael Smith - Keep

Striker Michael Smith joined Wednesday from Rotherham United in the summer of 2022, and he played a key role in his side's promotion from League One in his first season at the club, scoring 20 goals and registering eight assists in 49 games.

Smith's game time became a little more limited in the Championship, and after an underwhelming campaign last season, he was widely expected to depart Hillsborough in the summer, with Wrexham believed to have been interested in the 33-year-old.

However, with the club's other strikers struggling for form, Smith has played a much bigger part than anyone could have expected this season, and his goals have won the Owls plenty of vital points, giving Rohl a big dilemma over whether to offer him a new deal.

Despite the fact that Smith is by far the club's best-performing striker, Rohl does still seem somewhat reluctant to play him, but whether he starts or comes off the bench, he usually always has an impact on games, and it would be a big mistake for Wednesday to release him, especially given the lack of alternative options in the squad.