Here are three strikers that Sheffield Wednesday could sign in the summer as alternatives to Ike Ugbo.
Michael Smith and Lee Gregory scored a combined 26 goals in League One last term, but the jump up to the Championship left Sheffield Wednesday struggling to put chances away.
Smith, Gregory, Bailey Cadamarteri, Ashley Fletcher and Mallik Wilks have scored a combined total of seven league goals this season, and it had looked like their problems at the top of the pitch could contribute to their immediate return to the third tier.
However, the arrival of Ike Ugbo in January had an unexpected positive impact on the Owls’ attack.
The forward now has six goals and an assist in his last seven matches for the Yorkshire outfit, while he has spearheaded five wins in the process.
Ugbo could potentially be Sheffield Wednesday’s saviour this season, but the only issue is that he could well return to parent club Troyes in the summer.
Danny Rohl‘s side have no option to buy the Canada international, while Troyes could be tempted to keep hold of him, with their current top goalscorer Rafiki Said scoring only two more goals than Ugbo in 28 games.
If Sheffield Wednesday stay up then it does seem likely that they will try and bring Ugbo in permanently, but it is not guaranteed that Troyes will allow it or that the Owls could even afford him.
Here are three alternatives that Danny Rohl could look at…
Macaulay Langstaff – Notts County
Macaulay Langstaff has attracted a lot of attention this season, having netted 23 goals in 36 games in League Two – following on from his staggering total of 42 goals in 47 matches in the National League.
The striker was reportedly a target for the likes of Sunderland, Derby County, Birmingham City and Wrexham, while HITC claimed that he could be available for £1.5 million.
Sheffield Wednesday would have a lot of clubs to compete with and would be taking a risk in coughing up the cash, but he could be a very good addition to most EFL sides.
Sam Gallagher – Blackburn Rovers
Sam Gallagher was linked with a move to Ipswich Town in January, but eventually ended up staying at Ewood Park.
He isn’t exactly the most exciting of signings, but the 28-year-old will guarantee you just short of double digits every season. Gallagher has netted 34 league goals in the last five years at Blackburn.
The Tractor Boys were prepared to pay £2 million for Gallagher in the transfer window though, which may seem a little pricey for the Owls.
Jamie Vardy – Leicester City
Jamie Vardy would probably be the most exciting of the lot, but could well happen if Leicester City are promoted.
The striker has netted 13 goals in the Championship this term, but his contract is set to expire in the summer and could well be on his way out if the Foxes return to the Premier League.
There will be a huge number of clubs after Vardy, but Sheffield Wednesday could well have the advantage given they are his boyhood club.
What makes the move unlikely though, is that reports claim Vardy is currently raking in a massive £140,000-a-week at the King Power Stadium. Sheffield Wednesday’s current top earner, Barry Bannan, is making around £24,000-a-week.