Wycombe Wanderers will no doubt be looking at players to sign this January to increase their chances of securing Championship football.
As it stands, the Chairboys sit in seventh place and are just two points off the top-six after winning three of their last four games.
However, with Daryl Horgan now at Stevenage on loan for the rest of the season, and with Anis Mehmeti potentially moving on, Wanderers will need to secure the services of an attacking player (winger or striker), if they want to boost their promotion hopes.
And one player who I think they should re-sign is Uche Ikpeazu.
If Uche Ikpeazu becomes available, would you take him back at Wycombe? He has only played 10 times for Konyaspor since August, and is yet to start for the club. #Chairboys
— James Richings (@James_BFP) January 5, 2023
Could Uche return to the UK?
This was off the back of a difficult season for the forward, who had been made a free agent after having his contract cancelled by Middlesbrough.
So what happened?
During the 2020/21 season, which is Wycombe’s only season in the Championship to date, Ikpeazu scored six goals in 33 matches, but it was his work rate that endeared him to the Wycombe faithful.
@wwfcofficial let’s go.💪🏾 pic.twitter.com/4Tajjcw6ex
— Uche Ikpeazu (@UcheIkpeazu) August 17, 2020
READ MORE: Wycombe Wanderers sign Hearts striker Uche Ikpeaz on three-year deal
After six substitute appearances for the club between September and December 2020 due to numerous injury setbacks, the striker began a solid run in the Chairboys team at the end of that calendar year.
Goals against Middlesbrough, Brentford, Derby County, Barnsley, Bristol City, and Bournemouth soon followed, but it was all in vain as Wanderers were relegated on the final day of that season by a solitary point.
His performances however caught the eye of Middlesbrough who signed the striker for an undisclosed fee in the summer of 2021, but after three goals in 22 games, in which only eight were starts, he was loaned out to Cardiff City for the remainder of the 2022 season.
@wwfcofficial season 2020-21. #UI9 pic.twitter.com/PqXa5MkqN7
— Uche Ikpeazu (@UcheIkpeazu) June 5, 2021
He scored three times for the Bluebirds but only started once in 13 matches, as he returned to Boro at the end of the campaign to have his contract terminated by mutual consent.
READ MORE: 'He is the best manager I have played under' - Uche Ikpeazu on Gareth Ainsworth
Now playing for Konyaspor in Turkey, Ikpeazu has failed to start any of his 10 appearances, he has been yellow-carded in his last four games, and was even sent off after coming on as a substitute against Trabzonspor in November.
MS | Trabzonspor 2-2 Konyaspor
— Lig Radyo (@LigRadyo) November 6, 2022
⚽️ 14’ Bakasetas (P)
⚽️ 27’ Trezeguet (P)
⚽️⚽️ 45+8’ 54’Diouf
🟥 82’ Uche Ikpeazu#TSvKNY pic.twitter.com/47tuAmHu69
Could he move back to Wycombe?
Wycombe love re-signing a player, and with Ikpeazu knowing Gareth Ainsworth and the club’s identity, a move back to Adams Park could get his career back on track.
The Chairboys have already got a like-to-like striker in Sam Vokes on their books, with Brandon Hanlan also playing up top, as well as a winger.
Definitely
— ⚽Russell Cox💙 (@RussWWFC) January 5, 2023
But as we saw during in the 2020/21 season, Ikpeazu is unplayable on his day.
He is a hardworking, bustling, strong centre-forward who can also play as a second striker, along with being the main man up top.
And with several tap-ins and screamers on his goal highlights, this isn't a bad weapon to have in your arsenal.
100000% @UcheIkpeazu come home
— Dom (@DominicWingrove) January 5, 2023
Finally, his stint at Wanderers took place during the Covid-19 pandemic when no fans were able to see him live in the flesh (apart from three matches).
So if he does re-join one day, the thought of 6,000 people in unison screaming ‘Uche’, at Adams Park whenever he gets the ball would be a fantastic sight to see.
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