Sheffield Wednesday: Duo face tough choices as Owls begin to rebuild

Lewis Price, Jose Semedo and Caolan Lavery have all been offered new contracts as the Owls step up their preparations ahead of a fifth consecutive season season in the Championship.

In some respects, goalkeeper Price and combative midfielder Semedo face tricky decisions.

If the duo decide to stay put, the reality is they probably won’t get masses of game time. Between them, Price and Semedo played 23 times last term.

Their roles would be as squad players. Will they be happy with that or fancy new challenges? The financial packages could play a part in their final decisions too.

The emergence of Joe Wildsmith culminated in Price slipping even further down in the pecking order for a starting spot. His last outing came back in February at Birmingham City as a substitute.

Semedo, who has recently been on holiday in Ibiza with good friend Cristiano Ronaldo, ahead of the Real Madrid superstar’s European Championships 2016 duty with Portugal, has also struggled to force his way into Carlos Carvalhal’s starting eleven. He has made only four appearances this calendar year.

Had Wednesday gained promotion to the Premier League, there is a strong possibility boss Carvalhal would have allowed Price and Semedo to leave.

Carvalhal regards Price and Semedo as model professionals. He knows they are two reliable performers and are good personalities to have around the place.

Speaking specifically about Semedo after the Owls’ defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers last month, Carvalhal said: “He’s an important player. You need these kind of players in your dressing room. I’m very happy with Jose. He’s a player I appreciate. He has a good personality and is a good example all the time to the players here.”

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It is highly unlikely Lavery will pen a new deal. After knocking back Wednesday’s contract offer in the New Year, the striker clearly believes his long-term future lies elsewhere.

Lavery spent over two months on loan at Portsmouth during the 2015/16 campaign, notching four goals, but was left kicking his heels in the stands in the second half of the season. He is attracting the interest of Coventry City. Although Lavery is a free agent, clubs would be required to sign him for a fee fixed by a tribunal because he is under the age of 24.

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