Nottingham Forest-owned striker Hwang Ui-jo is the subject of interest from MLS outfits Atlanta United and Minnesota United, according to Greek outlet To10. The South Korean signed for the Reds during the summer but was immediately loaned out to Olympiacos.
His time in Greece hasn’t gone according to plan. The 30-year-old striker has failed to find the net in 11 appearances and has started just twice in the league for the Greek champions.
Ui-jo went to the World Cup with South Korea. Things got off to a truly woeful start for the experienced striker when he missed an absolutely sitter in his country’s opening game against Uruguay.
After that moment he appeared to lose the trust of Paulo Bento. He failed to start another game and played another 20 minutes across South Korea’s other three games in Qatar.
Ui-jo failed to make an impact and right now he must be wondering whether he will get the chance to add to his 53 international caps. Certainly, he will be facing a losing battle to do so.
At club level the striker finds himself in limbo as well. As he’s already played for Bordeaux and Olympiacos this season, he can’t register for a third club in Europe during 2022/23.
As a result, clubs in the MLS have come forward to obtain his signature. The player does have a track record of scoring goals and found the net 29 times during his 98 appearances with Bordeaux.
Forest striker Ui-jo subject of interest from MLS clubs
The talisman looked like a bizarre signing from the outset. You’d get very poor odds with any reputable bookmaker on the international performer leaving the Reds without ever making a first-team appearance.
Furthermore, the report makes an intriguing statement about Ui-jo. It’s being claimed that the Reds will be willing to consider a permanent transfer along with a possible loan.
Perhaps his spell at Olympiacos has convinced Evangelos Marinakis that the striker isn’t worth keeping for either of his clubs. Either way, it looks like a truly bizarre piece of business taking everything into consideration.
Danny Murphy wasn’t impressed with him at the World Cup. He called the player ‘awful’ for his miss against Uruguay during co-commentating duty for the BBC.
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