Sheffield Wednesday will be willing to let an attacking “game-changer” leave this summer, according to an update from former Owls midfielder Carlton Palmer.
Sheffield Wednesday struggling for playoff finish
Danny Rohl‘s side have endured a difficult period in their season, having looked like challenging for a place in the Championship playoffs a few weeks ago.
Instead, Wednesday have lost their last three matches in the league, not to mention four of their last five, dropping down to 13th place in the table in the process.
Last Friday’s 2-1 loss at home to Sunderland was another damaging defeat, and it means that the Owls are now seven points adrift of sixth-place West Brom, highlighting how much work needs to be done in the remaining 11 matches.
Regardless of where Rohl’s men finish once the season is done and dusted, fresh faces need to arrive in the summer transfer window, while others will be moved on to pastures new.
Sheffield Wednesday “game-changer” backed to leave
Speaking to Football League World, ex-England international Palmer backed Michael Smith to leave Sheffield Wednesday at the end of this season:
“Now the question is about the likes of Josh Windass, who will be out of contract in the summer (although there is a one-year option in his deal) and Michael Smith. I think he’ll be disappointed that he wasn’t allowed to go to Wrexham and I understand why Danny Rohl wouldn’t have wanted him to go, but he had a chance to go to Wrexham on what would’ve been a two or three-year contract. It’ll be interesting to see.
“I’d be very surprised to see Smith at the football club next season. Given his age and everything else, I think Danny will be looking to bring in a younger player, somebody who can score consistently at Championship level, although Smith has had an impact when he has played or come off the bench this season. Still though, I’d be very surprised to see Michael Smith signing a new contract at Sheffield Wednesday.”
This summer definitely feels like the right time for Wednesday and Smith to part ways, even though Darren Moore hailed him during their time working together at Hillsborough, saying:
“Michael Smith is a game-changer today. The quality showed at the end of it, and that’s what Michael is. He was in the right place at the right time and that’s what quality strikers do.”
Now 33 years of age, Smith is out of contract with the Owls at the end of the current campaign, and given his age, it makes little sense in him being handed an extension, considering his best days are arguably behind him.
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Wednesday simply have to focus on attacking reinforcements in the summer window, with Josh Windass the only player to reach double figures for goals in the Championship this season – he is also now 31, so isn’t the long-term solution – highlighting the importance of new additions in the attacking third.
