Stoke City’s chase for a new striker is stepping up as clubs across the Championship fight over the same small pool of targets.

Steven Schumacher has made it no secret that he wants to bolster his frontline following the release of Tyrese Campbell and Wesley, with Emre Tezgel and Nathan Lowe getting a chance to stake their claims in pre-season alongside Niall Ennis while Ryan Mmaee continues to recover from a knee injury.

But he is not the head coach up and down the division in a search for goals, while Birmingham City are also able to compete with a more open cheque book ironically thanks to their relegation to League One and more relaxed spending rules

Sheffield Wednesday are trying to re-sign Ike Ugbo, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Hillsborough from Troyes and is not short of suitors in England this summer. The 25-year-old former Chelsea rookie is hoping to lay down roots after spending pretty much six years on the move, with spells also at clubs including Cardiff City, Genk and Cercle Brugge

Wednesday boss Danny Rohl – who saw Ugbo become a big crowd favourite as he played a key role in the club’s dramatic survival bid – said this week: “The latest (on Ugbo) is that he’s not here at the moment but we’ll look at what we can do. He’s a crucial player, we know this, but at the moment we have to try. We have to look, and we need different options.

“We know the players who made a big, big impact for us last season in the second half, and I think that’s clear. With this point we’ll go on, but I can’t promise something now – it’s a process.”

Cardiff have been credited with interest in Fulham forward Jay Stansfield, aged 21, who scored 12 goals for Birmingham on loan last term. Birmingham are also claimed to have been in talks to try to take him back while Fulham manager Marco Silva has suggested the youngster will get a chance to be around his squad in the Premier League.

There has been talk of a £6 million price tag if Fulham are to loosen their grip.

Leeds United are reported to be trying to sign Daniel Jebbison on loan from Bournemouth, who have just signed the 21-year-old on a permanent deal from Sheffield United and are expected to let him out to gain experience this campaign.