After Ike Ugbo’s Barnsley loan is cancelled, did Leeds have lucky escape?

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Championship trio Leeds United, Wolves and Barnsley were all in the chase to sign Chelsea striker Ike Ugbo on loan in the summer transfer window.

Tammy Abraham ripped the Championship apart last season after joining Bristol City on loan from Chelsea. Netting 23 goals in his first full season in the professional game, the Blues-owned teenager saved the Robins from relegation and enhanced his reputation no end.

It is fair to say, however, that Ike Ugbo has not enjoyed the same marvellous impact at Barnsley. The 19-year-old scored just once in 18 Championship games for the struggling Tykes and had not started a match since the 3-0 defeat to Reading in November – a game in which Ugbo was hooked at half-time.

And, according to the BBC, Chelsea have now recalled the England Under-20 striker from Oakwell just halfway through his season-long loan with Barnsley.

Yorkshire rivals Leeds United, then, can afford to breathe a sigh of relief. According to All Nigeria Soccer, the Whites were keen to land Ugbo from Chelsea before Barnsley managed to secure a deal, but there is little reason to believe he would have been one of Victor Orta’s better signings at Elland Road.

Leeds have struggled to find a fitting replacement for Chris Wood this season with Pierre Michel-Lasogga dividing the fanbase while Pawel Cibicki, Caleb Ekuban and Jay-Roy Grot do not have a league goal between them.

Although while Ugbo might have been better off surrounded by the creative talents of Pablo Hernandez, Sami Saiz and co, it is hard to imagine that he would have scored for fun in Leeds colours.

The report added that Wolverhampton Wanderers were also keen in July. But with Wolves 12 points clear at the top, and with Leo Bonatini scoring at an impressive rate, they have just about done okay without Ugbo at Molineux.