Sheffield Wednesday chase in-demand ex-Cardiff City striker with Ike Ugbo move in doubt | OneFootball

Sheffield Wednesday are targeting a move for Sory Kaba of UD Las Palmas as an alternative to Ike Ugbo.

Highlights

Sheffield Wednesday are reportedly targeting a move for former Cardiff City loanee Sory Kaba, who now plies his trade with UD Las Palmas.

That's according to Darren Witcoop, who claims many Championship sides are keen on the striker this summer. The 29-year-old spent the second half of the 2022/23 season on loan with the Bluebirds.

This summer looks to be one of transition at Sheffield Wednesday, with Danny Röhl set to put his own stamp on the side after keeping them in the division in the previous campaign.

The German tied down his long-term future to the club last month, and looks set to transform the squad that he helped stay in the second tier, with a number of departures already confirmed from the club.

One forward that they are set to lose is Josh Windass, with the forward reportedly rejecting a new contract with the club, with Coventry City and Hull City set to be chasing the 30-year-old’s signature this summer, per reports from Football Insider.

The Owls are said to be chasing a deal to bring loan star Ike Ugbo back to the club this summer, according to the Sheffield Star, but the latest development is linking Kaba with a return to second tier football.

Sheffield Wednesday links emerge to Sory Kaba

Witcoop believes a deal for their top target in Ugbo is difficult at present, with Sheffield Wednesday concerned that they are to be priced out of a move for the Troyes striker, and Kaba has therefore emerged as a potential alternative.

Kaba is experienced in Championship football, having joined Cardiff on deadline day in January from FC Midtjylland. The 6'3 former Guinea international was an instant success, scoring on his first start in a 3-1 loss to Middlesbrough.

Kaba would go on to help keep Cardiff in the second tier that year, scoring eight goals and claiming one assist in 17 Championship games in spite of Cardiff's lowly league position. He then returned to Denmark with Midtjylland, following his loan spell ending in South Wales.

With just one-year remaining on his contract with FC Midtjylland, last August Kaba officially joined La Liga club Las Palmas for a reported fee of over €2 million, signing a four-year contract with the club. However, he contributed to just two goals and one assist for the side last year, and is free to leave the club this summer.

Of course, after Ugbo's exploits in South Yorkshire, it is unsurprising that the Owls are keen to bring him back next season, but Kaba is also Championship-proven quality and could make a fairly instant impact for the club.

He is not the quickest or the best at pressing a back line; but brings height, power, and a more physical presence to lead the line, as well as an eye for goal at this level.

The forward loves nothing more than a tussle with defenders, and could be a decent cheaper alternative to Ugbo this summer, should Wednesday step up their interest in the 29-year-old.

There are bound to be other second tier clubs who look at Kaba this summer, following his exploits with Cardiff at this level in 2023.