Sheffield Wednesday underwent yet another squad overhaul in the summer, as Danny Rohl rung the changes at Hillsborough.
For the past few summers now, Sheffield Wednesday have seen a larger-than-most overhaul of the first-team.
It suggests a lack of forward-planning from the hierarchy, which many fans will agree upon. But many will also agree that Danny Rohl had to do one last big summer transfer window ahead of this new season.
Now, the squad looks much more settled. We shouldn’t see as many changes in January or in the 2024 summer transfer window as we have in previous seasons, but some changes are inevitable.
There’s players out of contract in 2025 and players in and out of form right now. But one player who’s been impressing in recent weeks is Michael Smith, who actually came close to leaving Hillsborough in the summer.
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How close did Michael Smith come to leaving Sheffield Wednesday in the summer?
Smith has often been a very divisive player among fans. But many are now starting to see his qualities, and what he offers up front and to the team as a whole.
He’s a combative player but a very good finisher at the same time. However, in the summer, many wanted Smith gone in order to make way for younger, fresher blood.
Wrexham were interested in Smith throughout the summer window. At one point, Rohl didn’t rule out Smith’s Sheffield Wednesday exit, suggesting that the door was open for Smith to leave.
It might be that no teams met Sheffield Wednesday’s valuation of Smith, whatever that might have been. But Rohl will surely be glad that the Owls kept 33-year-old Smith for at least this season.
Smith scored a rocket for Sheffield Wednesday against Portsmouth last month, claiming an assist in that game as well as the Owls came from behind to win 2-1.
So far this season, Smith has three goals and four assists in all competitions, leaving him with the most goal involvements of any Owls man.
What is the contract state of play at Sheffield Wednesday right now?
Smith is one of those out of contract in 2025. And after last summer’s contract nightmare, which saw a horde of names out of contract at the same time, Rohl is keen to avoid a repeat.
In fact, Sheffield Wednesday want to offer a new contract to Pol Valentin who is out of contract in 2025, as well as Akin Famewo.
Earlier in the season, Rohl said Sheffield Wednesday contract talks are underway, but there’s been no mention of Smith.
If he carries on his fine form then, despite his age, he could land another one-year deal at Hillsborough. Though his future remains very much up in the air for the time being.