Sheffield Wednesday are set to miss out on tying Nathaniel Mendez-Laing to a contract for the 2022/23 campaign.Â
Mendez-Laing arrived at Hillsborough back in November 2021 and went on to make 19 appearances for Darren Moore’s side in 2021/22, scoring twice and registering a couple of assists.
Wednesday suffered late play-off heartbreak in the semi-finals at the hands of Sunderland.
In the club’s retained list they confirmed that they had offered Mendez-Laing a new contract in a bid to keep him at the club beyond the end of 21/22.
However, an update from Rob Staton of BBC Sheffield has confirmed that the 30-year-old has knocked back that offer and will now be leaving Hillsborough.
Despite that contract offer, Mendez-Laing’s involvement wasn’t prominent under Moore after his arrival.
Of his 19 appearances, only 12 came in the starting line-up, totalling to 1085 minutes of football in League One.
Mendez-Laing didn’t feature in the first leg of Sheffield Wednesday’s play-off semi-final meeting with Sunderland, whilst the return leg - Wednesday’s biggest game of the season - saw Moore use the wide man as a 71st minute substitute, as he replaced Jack Hunt.
A late Patrick Roberts goal in that second leg at Hillsborough secured Sunderland a 2-1 aggregate win. They went on to win promotion back to the Championship by beating Wycombe Wanderers 2-0 at Wembley in the League One play-off final.
Wednesday, meanwhile, are planning for their second season in the third tier.
Quiz: Are these 20 Sheffield Wednesday transfer facts true or false?
The VerdictÂ
On the face of things, a player snubbing a contract offer suggests this should be a blow for Sheffield Wednesday.
However, it’s hard to say it’s going to impact Moore’s planning too much.
Mendez-Laing was useful and offered an outlet for Wednesday out wide, yet he’s easily replaceable and wasn’t exactly a player that was key to last season’s play-off push.
With this news seemingly confirmed, Wednesday can press on with other plans.
Thoughts? Let us know!Â