Joe Crann has shared the 12 names he is ‘pretty sure’ aren’t out of contract at Sheffield Wednesday this summer.
Sheffield Wednesday‘s entire focus is on this weekend’s meeting with Sunderland, where they will confirm which division they will be playing in next season.
However, after that, there could well be contract chaos ensuing at Middlewood Road.
A long list of key players are set to see their contracts expire, meaning the Owls will have to begin rapidly thrashing out contract talks over the next few weeks and months.
The likes of Barry Bannan, Liam Palmer and Josh Windass have already discussed their future, but it is still unclear whether they will remain at Hillsborough next term.
The only thing supporters can be sure of is that loanees such as Ike Ugbo, James Beadle and Ian Poveda will return to the parent clubs, though they are hopeful that they can bring them back if Wednesday stay in the Championship.
The 12 Sheffield Wednesday players who aren’t out of contract
Journalist Joe Crann has now explained who he believes AREN’T out of contract this summer, though that still doesn’t necessarily mean they will stay at the club.
Writing on X, he said: “Had a few asking about #SWFC contracts, so for what it’s worth these are the players that I either know or am pretty sure have deals/options beyond the end of this season: Charles, Ihiekwe, B Diaby, Famewo, Valentin, Delgado, Paterson, Wilks, Musaba, Gassama, Cadamarteri, Smith.”
Crann was also asked about whether Reece James has another year on his contract, to which he replied: “That one I’m not sure on, I would think there is, but never been able to get more detail.”
So that could potentially be 13 players whose contracts don’t need negotiating this summer, though we could still see some of them leave the club.
The future of Michael Smith & Mallik Wilks
The most likely are definitely Mallik Wilks and Michael Smith, with the former only making one start in the Championship this season.
Wilks has only scored three goals for the Owls since joining in 2022, and is also thought to be raking in around £11,000-per-week.
You can almost guarantee that Wednesday will be trying to get him off their books this summer, no matter what league they are in.
Smith is a trickier one, as a few months ago you would have said he would have definitely been on his way at the end of the season too. However, he has become more of an important player recently and has been heavily involved in Wednesday’s improved form.
Despite that, Smith only has one goal since October, is approaching his 33rd birthday this year and is also one of the club’s highest earners. So I think we can expect him to be sent packing too.
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