Exclusive: Leicester City & Wrexham join Sheffield United in transfer race for Ipswich Town's Chiedozie Ogbene | OneFootball

Leicester City and Wrexham have joined Sheffield United in the race for Ipswich Town wide-man Chiedozie Ogbene, Football League World has learned

Leicester City and Wrexham have joined Sheffield United in the race to acquire surplus-to-requirements Ipswich Town winger Chiedozie Ogbene ahead of this evening's 7pm transfer deadline, sources have exclusively revealed to Football League World.

Leicester have enjoyed an uplifting start to the 2025/26 Championship campaign under new boss Marti Cifuentes, despite only making one signing in the form of back-up veteran goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, with the Foxes sitting in fourth position following Friday evening's 2-0 victory over promotion rivals Birmingham City.

Wrexham, meanwhile, have taken four points from their opening four fixtures after gaining promotion from League One last time out.

Phil Parkinson's side received something of a baptism of fire by facing Southampton and West Bromwich Albion in their first two Championship encounters, but chalked their first league win of the season on the board away to Millwall over the weekend and will expect to be competitive this term, having brokered eye-catching deals for the likes of Nathan Broadhead, Liberato Cacace, Conor Coady, Ryan Hardie, Lewis O'Brien and Kieffer Moore.

The Red Dragons are also reportedly closing in on a loan move for Manchester City's Issa Kabore, which could impact their pursuit of Ogbene given that he would be a likely fit as a right-sided wing-back under Parkinson - where the 34-cap Burkina Faso international defender is most at home.

Leicester City, Wrexham join Sheffield United in transfer race for Ipswich Town's Chiedozie Ogbene

Both sides, however, are bidding to complete further incomings in what promises to be a typically frantic transfer deadline day, with Ogbene emerging as a target for a number of sides towards the top-end of the Championship after being deemed surplus to requirements at Ipswich.

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Sources close to Football League World have now revealed that Leicester and Wrexham are eyeing last-grasp moves for Ogbene before the summer window officially slams shut tonight.

This could, of course, complicate Sheffield United's efforts to bring the Republic of Ireland international to Bramall Lane, with the Blades' interest in a loan deal first called yesterday evening via X by journalist Andy Giddings.

United have endured a disastrous introduction to the new campaign, and pressure is already mounting on Ruben Selles following a wretched run of four consecutive defeats, which has left last season's play-off finalists rooted to the foot of the league table.

Chiedozie Ogbene is surplus to requirements at Ipswich Town amid Leicester City, Wrexham, Sheffield United interest

Ogbene's future at Portman Road appears to be in doubt, despite only joining Ipswich last summer from Luton Town. The 28-year-old, who impressed in the Premier League for the Hatters, is yet to get going with Ipswich and managed just six appearances last term before seeing his season curtailed all the way back in October with a serious Achilles injury.

He has been used sparingly thus far in 25/26 by popular head coach Kieran McKenna, who revealed the possibility of a loan move being sanctioned in a bid for Ogbene to aid his return by playing regular football elsewhere following Town's dramatic 2-2 draw at home to Derby County on Saturday - and both Leicester and Wrexham are looking to swoop.

Ipswich have a plethora of wide talent at the disposal of McKenna, and the Northern Irishman has brought both Sindre Walle Egeli and Kasey McAteer to Suffolk in big-money moves this summer, while Championship-proven stars in Jack Clarke and Jaden Philogene also remain in the ranks, leaving Ogbene some way down the pecking order.

Of Ogbene, who was absent from the squad for the Derby fixture, McKenna explained: "Chieo’s OK, there’s a possibility, and it’s only a possibility, that Chieo might go on loan.

"A player, of course, coming back from a really, really big injury. He’s done terrific to get himself out there for us this year, but probably had to come into competitive games sooner than would have been ideal.

"So, we feel, Chieo feels that a period now where he can possibly build up his minutes on loan, really just focus on getting his body to the best condition and play really regularly for someone over the next period, could be beneficial, get himself up to full speed.

"That’s an option we’re looking at over the weekend. What level? There are few different options."