Sheffield Wednesday are closing in on a deal to sign Ike Ugbo.
Sheffield Wednesday are tipped to sign Ike Ugbo after what’s been a summer-long pursuit of the former Owls loan man.
After his seven-goal haul on loan at Sheffield Wednesday in the second half of last season, Danny Rohl has been eager for the Canadian international to return.
But it’s not been an easy ride for the Owls, and a deal isn’t yet complete.
Recent reports claimed that Sunderland have an interest in Ugbo, and although the Owls are now tipped to win the race, it’s also claimed that Sheffield Wednesday are set to pay £3million for Ugbo.
That’s significantly more than the £2.5million fee that was previously agreed.
As Ugbo nears a return to Hillsborough, we look at the winners and the losers of the move…
The winners as Sheffield Wednesday close in on deal to sign Ike Ugbo
Of course, Rohl and Ugbo are the main winners here.
Rohl is the one who brought Ugbo to Sheffield Wednesday last summer, along with head of recruitment Kevin Beadell, and Rohl is the one who got Ugbo firing.
Ugbo hasn’t had an easy career to date, with spells in and outside of England, all with mixed results.
But playing under Rohl in a high-pressing and very attacking Sheffield Wednesday side got the best out of Ugbo, so Ugbo returning is not only great news for the player, but for Rohl as well, as Rohl is getting a striker who he knows can compliment his style.
The other main winner as Ugbo edges closer to a return to S6 might be Bailey Cadamarteri.
Normally, another striker arriving might spell bad news for someone like Cadamarteri, who could find game time difficult in the first-team next season.
But Ugbo’s arrival should free up the 19-year-old to leave on loan this summer, with several EFL clubs interest in Cadamarteri.
However, it’s thought that League One Wrexham are the front-runners to sign Cadamarteri on loan ahead of the new season.
The losers as Ike Ugbo nears Sheffield Wednesday return
With several clubs having been keen on Ugbo, several clubs will be disappointed that he’s nearing a move to Sheffield Wednesday.
But it seems like Sunderland are a loser in this move; it’s claimed that Sunderland were used in the transfer saga to get Sheffield Wednesday to up their fee, as a Wednesday return is what Ugbo wanted.
Sunderland are also in desperate need of a striker and falling short in their search to sign one, so this latest Ugbo blow will certainly come as sorry news.
Meanwhile, Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri might feel slightly aggrieved by the fact that he’s had to spend £3million on Ugbo this summer.
Chansiri is earning praise from Sheffield Wednesday fans for his newfound ambition this summer and this latest Ugbo pursuit will earn him some more.
But spending £3million on the player after a £2.5million fee was reportedly agreed might come as a blow to the controversial Owls owner.
Having said that, if Ugbo continues to shine under Rohl then Chansiri could eventually make a huge profit on the 25-year-old, so there’s definitely some silver linings to this £3million fee.
All in all, Ugbo returning to Sheffield Wednesday is great news for the club.