Sheffield Wednesday: Steep Ike Ugbo price-tag revealed as Troyes play hardball | OneFootball

Sheffield Wednesday are interested in bringing Ike Ugbo back to the club this summer.

Sheffield Wednesday will need to pay a significant transfer fee if they are going to re-sign Ike Ugbo this summer, with Danny Rohl hoping that a deal can be agreed with ESTAC Troyes.

The Owls will need to make an offer in the region of £4.5 million if they are going to strike a deal with French third tier side Troyes for Ugbo, according to journalist Alan Nixon via his Patreon account.

The Canadian striker impressed on loan at Hillsborough during the second half of last season, scoring seven goals in the Championship as Sheffield Wednesday avoided relegation under the impressive management of Danny Rohl.

Rohl has admitted that he would like to see Ugbo return to the club this summer, but a figure lower than the price tag currently being reported would need to be agreed in order for that to happen.

Sheffield Wednesday could face competition from Birmingham City in the race for Ugbo, although their eyes are set firmly on Jay Stansfield, and the Canadian may not want to drop into League One.

Ike Ugbo price is perhaps steeper than expected for Sheffield Wednesday

Ugbo showed that he was more than capable of leading the line in the Championship last season during his loan spells at Cardiff City and Sheffield Wednesday, with his physical attributes, contribution during build-up play and ability to get on the end of goalscoring opportunities making him a handful for defenders.

German boss Rohl signed the striker on loan from Troyes in January, and got exactly what he was hoping for during the second half of the campaign, as Ugbo helped the Owls steer clear of the relegation zone in the Championship.

Ugbo scored vital braces in the victories over Birmingham City and Bristol City at Hillsborough, as well as netting important strikes in away wins against Millwall and Rotherham United. It is no surprise that the hardworking forward is wanted by Sheffield Wednesday on a permanent basis, as they look to take the momentum they created last season into the upcoming campaign.

Despite Troyes dropping into the third tier of French football last season, they are hoping to receive a substantial transfer fee for Ugbo with two years remaining on his contract.

It will not be easy for the Owls therefore to strike a deal for the 25-year-old, which would make it an even better signing if they can find a way to get it over the line.

However, they could see the fee as excessive for a player now in the third tier of French football, and it could act as a road block when it comes to trying to get a deal completed.

Troyes will be hoping for an Ike Ugbo bidding war

It is highly unlikely that Troyes - who signed Ugbo when they were in Ligue 1 - will be able to keep hold of the Canadian striker ahead of next season. He left on loan last summer with the French side preparing for a season in the second division, let alone the third.

Therefore, Troyes will surely be hoping that a bidding war for the forward will start this summer, especially with Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham reportedly already interested in the Canadian international.

It would be no surprise to see further Championship interest in Ugbo after his performances last season, although Troyes would do well to receive £4.5 million for a player who is likely very keen on leaving the club and returning to England.

The Owls will hope that they can re-sign Ugbo this summer, but it is not a deal that will be easy to conclude, nor will it be on the cheap, if it is completed.