… Lokosa in Tunis, nears Esperance switch
Wilfred Ndidi scored a rare goal at the weekend in the Premiership but his strike was not enough to ensure victory for Leicester City.
Elsewhere, Chelsea loanee, Ola Aina has been named the fastest player in the Italian Serie A by Lega Celcio beating Cristiano Ronaldo and others in the process.
In an abridged report, the NEWS EDITOR, ADEBAYO OLODAN writes on transfers and performances of Super Eagles players and hopefuls.
ENGLAND
Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester): He scored his team’s lone goal in the 58th min of their 1-2 loss at home to Southampton. The midfielder had so little contribution defensively as he made only one tackle with 87 per cent pass accuracy, two shots on target and five duels won out of 13. His compatriot, Iheanacho was an unused substitute.
Leon Balogun (Brighton): He was an unused substitute when his club suffered a 0-1 loss to league leaders, Liverpool in the EPL. The defender has only managed eight appearances for the club.
Isaac Success (Watford): The former schoolboy international was left on the bench in Watford’s dramatic win over Crystal Palace. Success has scored just one goal for the Hornets this season in the 21 appearances.
Alex Iwobi (Arsenal): He lasted the duration of his team’s 0-1 loss to West Ham. Iwobi has appeared 19 times for the Gunners this season.
Victor Moses (Chelsea): He was once again unlisted as his club defeated Newcastle Utd 2-1. The winger has only featured twice for the London Blues this season with a total of
Lookman Ademola (Everton): The England U-21 international showed his class in only his second start of the campaign as his team secured a 2-0 win over Bournemouth. Lookman was the star player for Everton in the first half but couldn’t convert a chance from a swift attack of 26 minutes.
Fenerbahce confident of landing Moses: Turkish Super Lig giants Fenerbahce is confident of signing former Nigeria international, Victor Moses ahead of his suitors in the Premier League, including Fulham and Cardiff City.
According to Fanatik, the Istanbul club through their sporting director, Damien Comolli, submitted the final offer to Chelsea for Victor Moses in London.
Fenerbahce is prepared to pay the whole of Moses’ wages until the end of the season to pull off the deal.
The Blues number fifteen extended his contract with Chelsea in March 2017 and now pockets £130,000 a week (around £3.38 million for six months).
Chelsea’s Anjorin tipped for foreign move
Chelsea youngster, Faustino Anjorin has been tipped to follow in the footsteps of former Manchester City starlet, Jordan Sancho by leaving the Blues for a foreign club.
The 18-year-old Sancho was undubtedly one of the best players in the first stanza of the Bundesliga scoring six goals with eight assists in 17 league appearances despite his young age.
Anjorin has made remarkable progress at Chelsea taking note of the fact that he has been promoted to their U-23 team having started the season as an U-18 player.
With a star-studded midfield consisting of N’Golo Kante, Ross Barkley, Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic, Anjorin may find it difficult breaking into the first team of Chelsea and it has been suggested that the player may have to follow the path of Sancho.
The player has been at the club for 10 years after joining their development centre programme at seven.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City): He was a 46th min substitute in his club’s 3–1 away loss to Brentford.
Eberechi Eze, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Aramide Oteh (QPR): Eze was on for 90 mins while Osayi-Samuel was a 62nd min substitute in their club’s 0-1 loss to Sheffield Utd.
Their teammate, Oteh was a non playing substitute.
SPAIN
Kenneth Omeruo (Leganes): He out in another decent performance as his team earned a narrow 1-0 win over Huesca.
Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal): The youngster lasted 56 mins when his club lost 1-2 to high flying Getafe.
ITALY
Orji Okwonkwo (Bologna): He was a non playing substitute when his team suffered a 0-2 loss to Juventus in the Coppa Italia.
Ola Aina named fastest Serie A player
Nigeria international, Ola Aina has been named the fastest player in the Italian Serie A at the halfway stage of the season.
The official website of the Lega Calcio has published infographics of the first round of the Serie A and the Chelsea loanee reached the highest speed peak calculated over a period of three seconds.
Aina clocked a top speed of 29.66 kilometres per hour to rank first, while Parma’s Jonathan Biabiany is the fastest over 30 meters at 29.01 km per hour.
Though Aina has to improve in the defensive phase, he is considered Nigeria’s best offensive wing-back at the moment and his strengths are his pace and acceleration, which helps him against his opponents.
The 22-year-old Chelsea Academy product is good in making short passes and is a good dribbler.
Joel Obi on watch list of Antalyaspor
Super Eagles star, Joel Obi is a transfer target for Turkish Super Lig team, Antalyaspor in the January transfer window.
Sky Sport Italia says Antalyaspor is working on a deal to sign the central midfielder on loan for the remainder of the 2018-19 campaign.
Obi transferred to Chievo Verona last summer and has a current market value of four million euros.
No thanks to injuries, the Nigeria international started nine out of Chievo’s 19 matches in the first half of the season and was on target against Bologna in November.
The Flying Donkeys want an outright sale of the player whilst Antalyaspor prefer an initial loan deal.
The former Inter Milan, Parma and Torino man has a contract with Chievo until the summer of 2021.
Agent tussle stops Simy’s Lokeren move
Belgium top division side Lokeren has switched target to Viktoria Plzen forward Jakub Reznicek after their failure to land Nigerian striker, Simy Nwankwo, no thanks to a tussle over his true representative.
Simy was the prime target of Lokeren and the club believed they have struck a deal for the forward who is into the final year of his contract at Italian Serie B side Crotone and desperate to leave as they don’t look set for a return to the Serie A next season.
Lokeren where however disappointed when the giant striker failed to turn up as planned only to discover that they have been talking to an agent who doesn’t control the player as claimed despite having a mandate to represent the player.
Upon discovering the row over his true representative, Lokeren immediately switch their attention to the 30-year-old Reznicek who is back at Viktoria Plzen after a a successful time on loan to Sigma Olomouc.
FRANCE
Samuel Kalu (Bordeaux): He was in the thick of action as his team suffered a 0-1 loss to 6th placed Nice. The winger received a yellow card in the 26th min of the encounter.
Enyeama plans return after 2 yrs in limbo
Former Super Eagles captain, Vincent Enyeama is keen on a return to football almost two years after making his last competitive appearance for French club Lille.
The 36-year-old last played for Lille in April 2017 and he was released by the 2011 French champions in August 2018.
“I have put the past behind me as I continue to train and hoping to make a positive return,” Enyeama told BBC Sport, denying reports he was about to quit the game.
“I’ve received some offers in Israel and Turkey. But at this stage in life, I want to make family a priority when I need to make a move because they are very settled here in France.
“The way I play football is with a smile and I would love to do that knowing my family is happy and settled.”
Despite his age and his time away from the game, Enyeama said he was not ready to stop playing yet.
“Goalkeepers have a long lifespan in football and I believe I still have so much to offer,” he insisted.
“I’d be the first to stop when I know I cannot give my best. I continue to train at home hoping for the best.”
PORTUGAL
Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto): The centre half was not considered in his team’s goalless draw against Sporting Lisbon.
BELGIUM
Osimhen inspires Charleroi to comeback win
On loan Wolfsburg forward, Victor Osimhen was once again inspirational for his loan side Charleroi as they secure a 3-2 win over German second division side St. Pauli in a friendly game ahead of the resumption of the second stanza of the league in Belgium.Osimhen and other first team players were given a rest in the game but with Charleroi trailing 0-2 he was among the players introduced in the second half of the game which was played for an hour with both halves lasting 30 minutes each.
The Nigerian provided the assist for the first goal scored by Charleroi to bring scores to 2-1 and came close to scoring twice, once with a firm header that narrowly sailed wide and the other a well hit drive from range.
He showed the same form that has helped him to 8 league goals this season from 16 games for the modest side who are slowly becoming the surprise package of the Belgium top division this season.
Awoniyi joins Mouscron on loan
Liverpool striker, Taiwo Awoniyi has joined Royal Excel Mouscron on loan for the rest of the season, subject to international clearance, after his spell with KAA Gent was ended early.
Having signed a new contract with the Reds in the summer, the 21-year-old linked up with Gent in Belgium’s top flight for 2018-19.
Awoniyi made 22 appearances for the club in all competitions and scored three goals, before an agreement was reached to conclude his stay this month.
And the Nigeria youth international has immediately sealed a loan move to fellow Belgian side Mouscron – where he spent the whole of 2017-18, scoring 11 goals – ahead of the resumption of their campaign on January 20.
BELGIUM
Getafe propose midfielder plus cash in exchange for Agbo
Fringe Super Eagles midfielder, Uche Agbo is in line for a return to Spain before the end of the January transfer window following interest from La Liga side, Getafe.
Agbo spent five seasons in Spain with Granada and played three seasons in the La Liga before moving to Premier League side, Watford from where he was sold to Belgium side, Standard Liege.
After a near perfect first year at the club, Agbo isn’t getting enough games this season with just 10 league games leading to speculations about a possible departure from the club in January.
Getafe is aware of the player’s abilities and reports indicate that they are willing to throw in 26-year-old Japanese midfielder, Gaku Shibasaki plus cash to land the 23-year-old Nigerian who has two more years to go on his deal at Liege. Despite interest in Agbo’s services from another la Liga side, Espanyol, Getafe is for now leading the race to sign him.
AUSTRIA
Stephen Odey (FC Zuerich): The former MFM striker scored the winner for his club in their 4-3 international club friendly win over Aarau.
TUNISIA
Lokosa arrives Tunis for Esperance talks
Kano Pillars striker, Junior Lokosa has arrived in the Tunisian capital Tunis for transfer talks with current African champions Esperance.
If negotiations are fruitful, the striker will pen a contract with effect from January without him undergoing trials, according to the agent brokering the deal Mahmoud Ouaddeni.
Lokosa who arrived in Tunis on Saturday is being accommodated in a hotel pending the outcome of negotiations.
The 25-year-old previously tried his luck with PFC Ludogorets Razgrad (Bulgaria), SK Brann (Norway) and Heilongjiang Lava Spring FC (China) but nothing came out of it.
The striker was named in Nigeria’s 30-man provisional World Cup roster and made his international debut against Democratic Republic of Congo in May 2018.
Last season, Lokosa scored a phenomenal 19 goals in 23 matches to finish as top scorer in the Nigerian Professional Football League.
HOLLAND
Vittese sweating on fitness of Gong
Ahead of the second stanza of the season in Holland, Dutch club, Vitesse Arnhem is sweating over the return to fitness of Hilary Gong after the player picked up a knee injury in December.
The 20-year-old sustained the injury in a Cup match against Kozakken Boys having earlier copped an injury which kept him out for a long time and restricted him to few games.
Since his move to the club in the summer from AS Trencin, Gong who is the most expensive player signed by the club during last transfer window has played eight games this season in all competitions.
Rated among the fastest players in the league, Gong showed what he is all about with a strong run to set up the assist of Oussama Darfalou in the win against VVV-Venlo before the league went on break.
Unable to train with the rest of the squad in their winter camp in Portugal and that has seen him miss test games against German side, VFL Wolfsburg and Scottish outfit, Livingstone FC.
AZ desperate to offload Friday
Top division club, AZ Alkmaar is presently searching for options for 23-year-old forward, Fred Friday who has been demoted to the B team of the club after his failure to impress with the first team.
Friday now trains with the B team Jong AZ as the club wait on offers for the former Lillestrom striker who has not played a single minute of top flight football for the first team this season.
Since his €1.5m move to the Dutch side he has failed to justify why he was bought in 2016 with just 11 league goals in three seasons and four came during his loan spell with Sparta Roterdam in the second half of last season.
With his contract still valid till 2020, AZ is open to the idea of having him leave on loan in January or on a permanent deal as they aim to cut their losses with the forward but they are yet to receive any offer for the forward.
A mutual termination of his contract is highly unlikely due to his huge wage meaning the club is stuck with a player they no longer need.
CYPRUS
Ajagun seeks revival of fading career
Former Flying Eagles skipper, Abduljeleel Ajagun has found a fresh chance to revive his once blossoming career in Cyprus.
The player has signed for Cypriot giant, Omonia Nicosia on loan and will play under a coach whom he is very familiar with.
Ajagun, who has previously played in Greece and Holland will now hope for better form than he had at KV Kortrijk of Belgium till the end of the season.
The midfielder, who captained Nigeria at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2011 and 2013 will now be expected to use his loan spell to regain his form in the squad under coach Yannis Anastasiou.
He had earlier played under the same coach at Panathinaikos of Greece before the gaffer took him to Roda JC Kerkrade of Holland and then Kortrijk.
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