Sheffield United eyeing Ipswich Town transfer action - but there's a big catch | OneFootball

Blades are apparently open to letting Chiedozie Ogbene go back to Portman Road next month

Sheffield United are open to letting Ipswich Town winger Chiedozie Ogbene leave Bramall Lane in January, though the Tractor Boys are under no obligation to recall him.

When the 28-year-old arrived in South Yorkshire, he did so with huge promise - having recovered from a serious Achilles injury that had left him out of action for nine months.

However, Ogbene’s 25/26 campaign has been disrupted by a hamstring problem sustained whilst on international duty with the Republic of Ireland in mid-November, keeping him sidelined since his last Championship appearance against Queens Park Rangers.

Which is perhaps why Blades are prepared to let him try and find a new home for the second half of the season.

Sheffield United willing to terminate Chiedozie Ogbene's Ipswich Town loan agreement

According to journalist Alan Nixon via his Patreon, Ogbene appears destined for an early departure from Sheffield United.

Nixon reports that this is because the Irishman is not involved in Wilder’s plans going forward - but another team has to make an offer before he might be allowed to leave.

This is because Town, who apparently sanctioned the move in the first place to give him game time, are reportedly not compelled to recall Ogbene. It's perhaps fairly obvious that the winger's subsequent fitness issues mean they have little incentive to bring him back to Portman Road.

In 12 Championship appearances, ten of which have been starts, Ogbene only has one assist to his name, which surely adds to the Suffolk outfit not wanting him back.

It's unclear whether another club will need to step forward with a concrete offer for him at this stage for the aforementioned situation to happen, but Blades are seemingly in a worse position to try and get rid of another loanee.

Louie Barry's situation more complicated than Chiedozie Ogbene's at Sheffield United

As we all know, Barry was returned to Aston Villa's Bodymoor Heath training ground in late November for specialist treatment of a cyst on his right knee - having not scored or assisted for United in nine league games.

Whilst Wilder confirmed to The Star that he is in talks with Aston Villa regarding the potential termination of the 22-year-old's loan deal - Nixon states it will be hard for Blades to do, given how expensive he is.

Towards the end of his Patreon report, the journalist claims that any teams looking at Barry will be put off by his injuries. This may well be the sort of problem that United will have with Ogbene.

Unlike the Irish winger, Barry has been the subject of reported interest from the likes of Stoke City and Derby County, as per The BBC. Hull City were named, but their local outlet dismissed those claims.

Ultimately, both of these players have been disappointingly underwhelming at Blades, regardless of their respective injury struggles. So it's surely to no one's surprise that Wilder has apparently added Ogbene to the unwanted list as well - there just needs to be some takers first.

The Blades would perhaps like to imagine that a number of Championship clubs will be queuing up to acquire the wide-man, who has previously proven himself as an electric operator at this level, but they're once again picking up the pieces from a summer of disappointing recruitment.