"The problem I assume..." - Carlton Palmer ponders "million dollar question" over Sheffield Wednesday contract crunch talks | OneFootball

Highlights

Former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Carlton Palmer has delivered his verdict on the club's Josh Windass contract talks amid reports that negotiations are ongoing.

Windass joined the Owls permanently in the summer of 2020 following a successful short-term loan deal the previous season from former club Wigan Athletic.

The 30-year-old is one of the Yorkshire side's most senior players and has had a significant impact at Hillsborough since joining, despite suffering injury issues in recent times.

The Star are now reporting that the forward is set to be offered a new deal by the club but it is yet to be confirmed how advanced the talks are or how close any deal may be.

The former Rangers man has been the subject of some transfer speculation, fuelled by the fact that under FIFA rules foreign clubs can now sign a pre-contract agreement with him as he has entered the final six months of his current deal.

The clubs linked, according to The Star, included MLS side Real Salt Lake and Argentinian club Atletico Talleres but, speaking to the same outlet last month, Windass confirmed that he had not signed any such deal and that his current manager, Danny Rohl, would be the first to know if he did so.

Rohl has previously confirmed that those with contracts expiring that he wants to remain at the club would be spoken to in the coming weeks and understands that it may be a two-way negotiation with some doubts over which division the Owls will be playing their football next season.

Carlton Palmer believes relegation uncertainty could cause problems in Josh Windass talks

Palmer is a former England international who turned out 201 times for the Championship side so he knows what it means to be a vital part of the Wednesday system.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, he said: "Josh has been fantastic for Sheffield Wednesday, obviously scored in the League One play-off final that saw Sheffield Wednesday promoted to the Championship.

“The problem I assume with Josh is the salary that Josh is commanding at this moment in time and Sheffield Wednesday, right now, do not know which league they’re going to be playing in. You know, if they’re playing in League One, would they want to be paying Josh Windass the money that they were paying last season and this season? That’s the million dollar question.

Palmer also recognises that dropping down the leagues at this stage of his career may not be seen as suitable for Windass.

"If they go back down to League One, Josh has proven that he can score the goals to get them back up, but would Josh want to play in League One again? I think that would be a big decision," Palmer said. "I think Josh has suitors from Championship level who were after him last season.

“So I think this is going to be a very, very difficult one for Sheffield Wednesday to get Josh Windass to sign again."

The 58-year-old also considered whether there may be some off-field factors that may come into the player's thinking.

“I also know that Josh’s girlfriend is American, there are offers on the table for Josh to go to America," Palmer continued. "That might be one of those things that interests Josh but, of course, you want to sign your better players and Josh Windass is a very, very good player at League One and Championship level.”

Whether the Owls find themselves back down in League One or survive the drop from the Championship this time, next season does not look set up to be an easy ride for the Yorkshire side.

It is difficult for any side to keep hold of their better players through turbulent times, but senior players like Windass can provide the dressing room with all the necessary experience to guide the club out of that storm, providing calm and reason to the younger players that may struggle.

Despite recently suffering an injury, from which it is not known how long he'll be out, Windass has also been vital for his on-field haul this season.

He's notched three goals and two assists in 19 league appearances, two of those goals coming in crucial wins against Blackburn Rovers and Hull City that could prove the difference in any upcoming relegation battle.

The club may understandably want to assess the severity of his current injury before committing to a contract that is likely to be expensive, but the role Windass could play both on and off the field through this difficult time, having had years of experience with the club and fans in Sheffield, may be difficult to replace in the transfer market. The Owls should do everything in their power to keep him.