Sheffield Wednesday: Interesting Iké Ugbo comparison could spark Duncan McGuire transfer push: View | OneFootball

Sheffield Wednesday striker Iké Ugbo has reignited his Championship season since signing in January.

Originally on a season-long loan to league rivals Cardiff City, the Canadian international was recalled by his parent club Troyes and sent to South Yorkshire, where he helped the relegation-threatened team to six wins and four draws in their last 15 matches.

Despite playing nine times for the Canadian national team, Iké Ugbo was born in Lewisham, London and joined a talented Chelsea Academy, where he won the UEFA Youth League in 2015 and 2016, playing alongside the likes of Cole Palmer, Andreas Christensen, and Mason Mount.

Signing his first professional contract with the London club at 17 years old, the striker failed to receive a substantial opportunity in the Chelsea first team and was loaned out to Barnsley, Milton Keynes Dons, Scunthorpe United before trying his luck outside the United Kingdom with Dutch club Roda JC and Belgian club Cercle Brugge.

It was in Belgium where he got his first permanent move, signing with Genk in August 2021, before a loan, and then an eventual permanent move to French club Troyes.

The Canadian international striker spent the first half of the 2023/24 EFL Championship Season on loan at Cardiff City, where he started the season strongly with three goals and one assist in his first four games. His opening goal in the Bluebirds' 2-1 victory against Sheffield Wednesday in late August proved to be his last in the Championship since he joined the losing side in January.

The 25-year-old has proved to be a strong addition to Danny Röhl's revived Wednesday side.

His five goals in February earned the Owls key victories over Birmingham City, Millwall, and Bristol City, eventually earning him a nomination for Championship Player of the Month.

Ugbo will return to France in the summer with his Troyes contract expiring in 2026. There are no guarantees that Wednesday could bring the striker back next season, and they may have to look elsewhere for a replacement.

According to FBREF.com, Iké Ugbo profiles very similarly to Orlando City SC star striker Duncan McGuire who Wednesday had shown interest in after his failed move to Blackburn Rovers in January, according to Goal.com.

According to the Athletic, McGuire's winter transfer failed after Rovers failed to correctly submit the transfer paperwork in time. The striker spent time in hotels in the North of England while Blackburn appealed against the ruling, which was later denied.

Orlando City striker Duncan McGuire looks like a perfect Iké Ugboreplacement

Duncan McGuire enjoyed a breakout season for Orlando City in the 2023 MLS season, scoring 13 goals and providing three assists in 32 appearances, helping his team to finish as runners-up in the Eastern Conference before losing in the playoffs to eventual MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew.

The American international is a physically strong striker like Ugbo and also possesses a similar aerial threat. At 23 years old, McGuire is a younger option and is still due his peak years.

McGuire has carried his form over into the 2024 MLS season and has already scored three goals in only six games. He has also bagged one goal in the CONCACAF Champions Cup against Canadian Premier League side Cavalry FC.

In a club statement made following McGuire's failed transfer to Blackburn, the club revealed that they were going to conclude a deal for the player to join in the summer soon after he returned to Orlando.

If Sheffield Wednesday act fast in the summer and offer a better deal than their league rivals, they could find themselves the next Josh Sargent or Haji Wright in Duncan McGuire.