Sheffield Wednesday have provided an update on the future of Michael Smith.
Michael Smith quickly became a fan favourite following his move from Rotherham United in 2022.
The striker arrived on a free transfer and went onto score his first League One goal against Morecambe in his second appearance for the club.
He went onto finish the campaign as Sheffield Wednesday‘s top scorer with 16 goals, with four of them coming in the final two games of the season as they secured their place in the play-offs.
Smith went onto claim a goal and an assist in The Owls’ dramatic win over Peterborough United in the second leg of play-off semi-finals – becoming well-loved for his heroics as he helped guide the team back to the Championship.
While he has struggled with injuries this term, he has also struggled to retain his regular spot in the starting line-up. The 32-year-old has made seven starts in the second tier, but has found himself further down the pecking order following the emergence of Bailey Cadamarteri.
Smith has now been heavily linked to a reunion with Paul Warne at Derby County and is said to be ‘keen’ on the move. Reports have claimed The Rams have made a loan bid for the attacker, but Sheffield Wednesday are also demanding a hefty fee on top of a contribution to his £17,500-per-week wages.
It remains to be seen whether Smith will get his move back to League One, but The Star have now claimed that Sheffield Wednesday would prefer to sell him than allow him to leave on loan – though they would also be open to keeping him at Hillsborough too.
Can Michael Smith still get his move away?
Michael Smith is believed to have a year left on his deal beyond the summer and so Sheffield Wednesday may look to offload him for a decent fee now, before he leaves on the cheap.
It’s unclear how much Danny Rohl‘s side would demand for the striker, but it seems unlikely that Derby County would be willing to cough up a lump of cash for a player turning 33 years old this year.
Given Smith’s contribution to Sheffield Wednesday’s promotion and his eagerness to leave this month, we could still see the club change their mind and allow him to leave out of respect.
Ike Ugbo’s arrival makes Smith’s presence less vital to Sheffield Wednesday, while they still may look for further reinforcements anyway.