On-loan Nottingham Forest striker Hwang Ui-jo could head to Japan if his Olympiacos spell is cut short.
The 30-year-old was one of 22 signings made by the Reds in the summer, joining from Bordeaux in a deal said to be worth in the region of £4m. But, like fellow transfer window arrivals Josh Bowler and Brandon Aguilera, he immediately went out on loan.
Both Ui-jo and Bowler are due to spend the season in Greece. However, they have had a difficult few months with the fellow Evangelos Marinakis-owned side and their futures look to be uncertain.
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Olympiacos are reportedly ready to end Ui-jo’s loan early. He is yet to find the back of the net in his 11 appearances for the club and has been struggling for form.
According to French media outlet WebGirondins, the forward “would like to” switch to Japan. Returning to his homeland of South Korea “is also not to be excluded”.
Because he has already represented Bordeaux and Olympiacos this season, Ui-jo is quoted as saying: “There are two options, one is to go back to Nottingham Forest and not play and just train, the other is to go to South Korea or Japan, which is not part of UEFA."
Prior to Thursday night’s 2-0 Europa League defeat to Nantes, when Ui-jo was named in the starting XI, the player’s agent, Christian Emile, said: “Olympiacos are a big club going through a period of transition with changes in coaches and players. There is a great squad and many tight fixtures ahead of the World Cup, so it's normal for players to be rotated in order to keep the team competitive and manage injury/fatigue.
“Ui-jo is on a season-long loan from Premier League side Nottingham Forest, who acquired him for a hefty transfer fee after being one of the best players in France's Ligue 1. Therefore, it is clear that the owners believe in him and want the best for Ui-jo, (he) is grateful for the trust and will continue to work hard and improve to help Olympiacos achieve their goals and make the fans happy."
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