STUTTGART, GERMANY - AUGUST 30: Danny Rohl, assistant coach of Germany talks to the media during a press conference at Conference Center Waldaupark on August 30, 2021 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Sheffield Wednesday could yet lose steely midfielder Will Vaulks this summer.
Will Vaulks sees his Sheffield Wednesday contract expire next month. The club announced via their retained list that the Welshman has been offered fresh terms, but he’s yet to sign the deal.
Whether or not he stays in S6 for what would be a third season remains to be seen; it comes after a strong 2023/24 campaign for Vaulks who featured 34 times in the Championship, proving pivotal in the run-in.
Although the 30-year-old proved inconsistent at times, he was an overall important player in Sheffield Wednesday’s eventual 20th place finish.
Per Sofascore, Vaulks ended the season as the player with the highest-average rating, behind only Barry Bannan, averaging the third-most passes-per-game and topping the charts for tackles-per-game.
But with uncertainty around his future, Danny Rohl must consider potential replacements, and there could be one at Vaulks’ former club Cardiff City.
Sheffield Wednesday must join race for Ebou Adams
Gambian international Ebou Adams, like Vaulks, faces an uncertain summer ahead with Derby County desperate to make him a permanent player after he impressed on loan in 2023/24.
He joined in the winter transfer window, going on to feature 17 times in League One, with one goal and one assist.
But it was Adams’ energy and steel in the midfield which made him such a fan favourite; he made more tackles-per-game than Vaulks last season (2.8 compared to Vaulks’ 2.5) and was closely-matched with Vaulks for balls recovered-per-game (5.4 for Vaulks and 5.1 for Adams).
He’s a very similar player and his highlights prove that. But he’s also someone with pace and energy, averaging 7.9 duels won-per-game compared to Vaulks’ 4.9.
