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| Bordeaux striker Hwang Ui-jo / Captured from Bordeaux's webpage |
By John Duerden
It is not quite a transfer saga, but Hwang Ui-jo's situation has generated an increasing number of column inches. The South Korean striker has been looking to leave Bordeaux since the team was relegated to France's second tier at the end of last season, especially as the club is desperate to raise some funds. Like more and more players around the world, Hwang has been looking to move to the English Premier League.
The 29-year-old has performed solidly in France since arriving there in 2019 and has scored around a goal every three games ― not bad going for a team that has struggled. Scoring 11 goals last season as the team was relegated was an impressive return.
There has been interest from clubs. Newly promoted club Fulham, pleasantly situated in West London on the banks of the River Thames, was linked. The player has said that there have been offers. "I am waiting, nothing is decided yet. There will be more details to give you depending on the financial situation of the team of Bordeaux," Hwang was reported as saying in the French media. "It is true that offers have arrived from FC Nantes and West Ham United as well."
West Ham plays at London Stadium in the eastern side of the city and is regularly watched by 60,000 fans despite being the fourth most successful team in the capital behind Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal. Last season was a good one as the team finished seventh, just two points behind Manchester United.
Then there is Wolverhampton Wanderers, a team from the Midlands that has established itself as a solid Premier League contender on the back of a strong Portuguese contingent. Hwang Hee-chan helped the team finish 10th last season. The idea of a second South Korean forward may be an attractive one. Wolves has struggled to score goals in recent seasons and that seems to be the case once again, with just one goal in the opening two games of the current campaign.
Nottingham Forest has also been strongly linked and, according to reports, has had a bid of around $4 million accepted by Bordeaux. The team, the European champion back in 1979 and 1980, has returned to the Premier League for the first time since 1999. The club has made 15 signings since its promotion in a bid to improve its roster. It could be that Hwang would struggle for playing time and it is possible that the East Midlands team will struggle this season. Still, it is a big club with 30,000 fans watching every game and Forest belongs in the top tier of English soccer. If Hwang did go and helped the team survive in the top tier and then build for the future, he could become a real hero.
But then the same would be the case anywhere if he played and scored. The most important aspect for the player is that he goes to a new club where he is going to get regular minutes. It is especially crucial with the World Cup coming in November. South Korea would love to have Hwang go to Qatar after playing well in what is currently the strongest domestic league in the world. He has some big decisions to make.
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