Sheffield Wednesday have suffered another blow in the race for Ike Ugbo.
The Owls have been long in pursuit of Ugbo after he netted seven goals during his loan spell in the second half of last season.
The striker’s goals single handedly won Sheffield Wednesday nine points and he quickly became a fan favourite at Hillsborough.
Ugbo has since returned to Troyes though and is now a target for a number of clubs, though he has made it clear that he wishes to return to Wednesday this summer.
However, Wednesday still need to meet Troyes’ valuation of Ugbo, which has proven to be a huge obstacle in their pursuit so far.
Alan Nixon has reported that the French outfit have now slapped a whopping £4.5 million price tag on the Canadian, but former midfielder Carlton Palmer believes the Owls won’t be meeting that valuation anytime soon.
Sheffield Wednesday won’t be willing to pay £4.5m for Ugbo
Speaking to Football League World, he said: “[Danny] Rohl is keen to bring the player to the football club, but the French third tier side Troyes are playing real hardball, and they’re saying a fee of £4.5m will be required to get the player’s services.
“Birmingham City are believed to be interested in Ugbo, so Troyes are hoping that they can get into a bidding war. They know that it’s unlikely that they will be able to keep the player, but that also comes down to the player.
“If the player’s stance is that he would like to go to Sheffield Wednesday, then it becomes difficult for Troyes. If they want to sell the player, they’re going to have to lower the fee.
“Troyes are hoping that there will be a bidding war for the player, but Rohl is very keen on the player, very keen on him, but not at £4.5m.
“So I think this one will go down to the wire, and as I said, it will be down to the player as well. If the player says Sheffield Wednesday is the club I want to go to, and won’t go anywhere else, then the fee will have to be lowered.
“I’m sure that Sheffield Wednesday – who have done really good business this summer – will be looking elsewhere, and will have other recruits in mind that they could bring in.
“Maybe it might be a loan deal again for Ike Ugbo, with maybe a loan fee involved. Still a lot of work to be done, but a permanent transfer at £4.5m I think is too rich, and Rohl, who’s proven to be very astute in his short managerial career, will not be looking to pay that amount for the player.”
The Owls have to give up on Ugbo eventually
Wednesday have kept their spending to a minimal this summer, but that doesn’t mean they have loads left to splash out on in the final month of the transfer window.
The Owls can have one last attempt at signing Ugbo, but it feels way too risky to leave it until the last second in the hope that Troyes will cave.
If Wednesday are left without a No.9 by the time the window shuts, then their hopes of challenging for a top half finish will be dented massively.
The rest of their signings have looked very positive and their squad is definitely a lot stronger than before, but bringing in a striker who can reach double figures is pivotal.