The departure of Ike Ugbo to Sheffield Wednesday could result in movement away from the club, with Wrexham target Lee Gregory a possible contender.
Former Chelsea striker Ugbo was loaned out to Cardiff City for a season in the summer before being recalled by parent club Troyes during the transfer window, only to be loaned out again.
The striker struck four times in 22 games for Cardiff this season, as the team struggled in the Welsh capital to achieve a play-off spot in the Championship.
Ugbo was unable to secure a starting spot at Cardiff and did not appear after the Bluebirds’ 3-0 defeat to Hull in December owing to a hamstring injury.
Wednesday decided to recruit the striker on loan until the end of the season, hoping to get the most out of the forward, whose arrival might allow another forward to depart the club in January following months of speculation.
With manager Danny Rohl stating that he intended to recruit a new striker in January, the loan acquisition of Ugbo from Troyes will be welcomed by the management.
Ugbo is a powerful presence up front who has the potential to make a huge impression at Hillsborough. He came through Chelsea’s system but has struggled to make an impact at the professional level.
His goalscoring record at Cardiff wasn’t bad – four goals and one assist in 937 minutes of action – and a bigger role at Hillsborough could help bring out the best in him.
If Ugbo can add to his four goals this season, he might be the difference between staying in the Championship and being relegated to League One.
With the arrival of the former Chelsea striker, Wednesday will be able to let veteran striker Gregory leave in January, despite interest from League Two side Wrexham.
Since December, Gregory has been connected with Wrexham. According to journalist Darren Witcoop, manager Phil Parkinson wanted the 35-year-old striker to bolster the club’s League Two drive, with the Welsh club aiming for back-to-back promotions.
Gregory’s two-and-a-half season stint with the Owls would come to an end, despite the fact that he has struggled for game time this season.
Since October, the striker has played just one minute of league football and has not been included in the team at all.
While he was not playing on Wednesday, the club may have been unwilling to let him go in case an injury crisis left them short on strikers.
However, the arrival of Ugbo has provided them with an additional attacker and may be the spark for Gregory’s transfer to Wrexham. It would also free up some of the wage budget for Wednesday, giving them the option to continue dipping into the transfer market this month.
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