Retained List Predictions

Sheffield Wednesday are at risk of losing 8 players in the upcoming few weeks due to being at the end of their contract. These players are:
– Joe Wildsmith
– Cameron Dawson
– Vincent Sasso
– Darryl Lachman
– Claude Dielna
– Urby Emanuelson
– Jose Semedo
– Modou Sougou

Starting with the two young goalkeepers first, I would expect both to be offered new, long-term deals. Both players have risen through the academy, and through the last two years under Carlos Carvalhal, have made the step-up to the first team squad. They made a combined total of 9 appearances over the last campaign. Unsurprisingly, at such young ages, neither have managed to knock the unassailable 32-year-old, Irish international, Keiren Westwood from the #1 jersey.
Verdict: Staying

Next up, the rather-handsome Frenchman, Vincent Sasso. Sasso was loaned to Wednesday by S.C Braga during the 2015/16, and signed a one-year contract at Hillsborough following the culmination of this loan. Sasso is usually back-up choice to Lees and Loovens, who between them have helped the Owls to keep 33 league clean sheets from 92 matches under ex-centre-half Carvalhal. The 25-year-old came into his own when Tom Lees was struck with injury, and Sasso was drafted in. Speaking to the Sheffield Telegraph prior to the Forest (a) game, he said: “I like the players and feel good here,” Sasso said. “We will see. I do not really think about it (contract) at the moment.’. He could prove a valuable squad player during the Owls’ next campaign.
Verdict: Staying

Darryl Lachman? eek. Perhaps the biggest failure of Wednesday`s transfer policy under Chansiri. He was brought in as the Owls first summer signing ahead of the 2015/16 campaign from Dutch outfit FC Twente. The slight issue is that when he was brought in, the Owls were without Carvalhal, and obviously once the Portuguese man had taken the reins, it was clear to see Lachman would be playing little part for the Owls. He failed to make any of Carvalhal`s matchday squads, and was shipped back on loan twice to Holland, firstly to SC Cambuur, and then Willem II.
Verdict: Leaving

Another simple case for the Owls is that of Claude Dielna. Most famous for once re-tweeting one of my tweets, Dielna was brought in under Staurt Gray. He did an average job for the club under Gray, showing versatility by being able to play left-back and centre-half, playing 23 games in blue and white. He did also score a last-minute winner against Blackburn (which may or may not have taken a wicked deflection?) However, Carvalhal seemingly has an eye for spotting dodgy centre-halves, and similarly to Lachman, was ousted, and sent on loan, firstly to Slovakia, and then to Romania.
Verdict: Leaving

Sixth player, Urby Emanuelson. Odd one, player of great pedigree and credibility, and seemingly one that would also fit into Carlos`s philosophy of full-backs who like to bomb forward. History with Ajax, AC Milan, and Fulham (during their better days). I wrote a piece on how he could become our first choice left-back and play a pivotal role. Oh, how wrong was I? Seemingly always injured or unfit, Emanuelson looked like a player who was costing big bucks on the wage bill for no real return. And even when he was fit, he failed to break into Carlos`s 18. The gaffer, obviously not liking what he was seeing, brought Morgan Fox in from Charlton in January, as well as moved Adam Reach back to left-back if required. Although, his stellar cameo against Fulham on the final day made it all the worthwhile.
Verdict: Leaving

The only player in the side who may be magic is Jose Semedo. Is it time for Semi to go? This is a tough one, it`s head vs. heart. I think, deep-down, all Wednesdayites love the commitment, desire, passion, and genuine love for the player. However, even the sun sets in paradise, and whether he can cut it against the top-drawer central-midfielders we have, Barry Bannan, Kieran Lee, Sam Hutchinson, Almen Abdi, and David Jones has probably already been answered. There have been several calls for him to be made part of the coaching staff, but at 31, he has a lot left in the tank.
Verdict: 50:50

Finally, Modou Sougou. The Senegalese International signed on a free transfer from Marseille at the beginning of Carvalhal`s reign, and it is probably going to come to an end now. Sougou has struggled to make a huge first team impact for the Owls, although scoring 3 goals in 16 appearances for the club isn`t necessarily a bad return for the winger. Following the arrivals of Adam Reach, Will Buckley, and later, Callum McManaman, in the wide areas, Sougou struggled to nail down a place and made the switch to Portugal in the January window. He has plied his trade for Moreirense for the remainer of the season, and at 32, it is unlikely he will be offered a new deal.
Verdict: Leaving

That was a lot of information to digest, however, this means that if the Owls were to act as I predict, the squad would be left looking like this ahead of the 2017/18 campaign:
Goalkeepers: Westwood, Wildsmith, Dawson, Kean
Defenders: Hunt, Palmer, Lees, Loovens, Sasso, Pudil, Fox
Midfielders: Wallace, Bannan, Lee, Hutchinson, Abdi, Jones, McGugan, Melo, Reach, Matias, Forestieri
Strikers: Rhodes, Hooper, Fletcher, Winnall, Nuhiu, Joao
Disagree with my thoughts, Owls fans? Let me know!