Super Eagles forward Brown Ideye is close to sealing a big money move from Olympiacos of Greece to Chinese side Tianjin Teda.

A fee in the region of £13m was reportedly agreed for his transfer to the team that currently has captain of the Super Eagles John Obi Mikel on their payroll.

Ideye will reportedly earn an annual salary of $4m if the move goes through but the Greek side are yet to sanction his move with their Europa League round of 32 clash against Osmanlispor around the corner.

” To be honest I don’t know if Ideye will play against Osmanlispor, we have to wait and see if both clubs agree to the terms of the transfer, his agent Hutu Ahmad said.

” I have not talked to anyone today, as am in London at the moment, so you have to ask Olympiacos if they are willing to sell however I know the president don’t want to let Ideye go”.

Already four Nigerians in John Obi Mikel, John Owoeri, Chinedu Obasi and Odion Ighalo have all moved to China this January, bringing to six the number of Nigerians in the big paying league.

Obafemi Martins and Leke James complete the list of Nigeria in the currently which could swell to seven if Ideye’s move is agreed.

Highly rated Nigeria teen star Chidera Ejike popularly referred to as Nigerian Iniesta has arrived Spain with his test team Valerenga.

Ejike is on trial with the Norwegian side, and followed them to their camp in Spain where a final decision on his potential signing will be made by the technical crew of the club.

18 year old Ejike has played in one test game for Valerenga since joining them last week for a trial, which is expected to last for a month.

Known for his pace, skills and passes, he had a trial with Liverpool last year but failed to bag a deal with the Premier League outfit due to issues surrounding a loan destination, as he is not eligible for a work permit to play in England.

A proposed loan move to St. Truiden didn’t work making it imperative for him to return to Nigeria, where he played for Supreme Court in the Nigeria National League (NNL), before joining Premier League side Gombe United at the start of the ongoing Nigeria Professional League (NPFL).

Super Eagles third choice shot stopper Dele Alampasu is still playing second fiddle to Bruno Pinto at third division Portuguese side Cesarense.

Alampasu is on a season long loan to the club from first division side CD Feirense, but after a fine start with the struggling team he has lost his spot as the first choice shot stopper.

The 20 year old kept goal in 8 games with no clean sheet to his name, and his case was made worst when he arrived Portugal late from a national team assignment with Nigeria, which paved the way for Pinto to keep goal and since then remained as first choice after a clean sheet in his first game between the sticks.

Despite the reported extension of his loan deal, he has fail to wrestle the number one spot from the hands of Pinto, who has kept goal in the four games they have played this year, while Alampasu is yet to play a game this year.

Former Inter-Milan, Newcastle United and Wolfsburg forward Obafemi Martins has not given up on his international career with Nigeria despite a three years absence from the team.

Martins who now plays for Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua believes at 32, he can still contribute his own quota to the Super Eagles if called up by coach Gernot Rohr, although he respect the fact that young players need to be given their chance in the team.

” I never am through with international football. If the new coach of Nigeria Gernot Rohr needs me, I will gladly honour his call. I am fitter than ever”, Martins said.

” You have to respect the quality of the young players who are coming through with the national team, they deserve to be given their chance in the team.

” Playing in China is way higher than in the past, we now have top model professionals in the league, so it’s no longer a case of if you go to China, you are winding down your career”.

Former Tottenham youth team prospect Nathan Oduwa has settled down into his new surroundings faster than many expected following his move to Slovenian side Olimpija Ljubljana.

Oduwa ended his over a decade association with Spurs last week when he inked a three year deal with the Slovenian side, and immediately made an instant impact in his first game.

He made his unofficial debut for the team in their 1-0 win over champions of Kazakhstan Astana, where he set up the winner shortly after coming on as a second half substitute.

Known for his pace, tricks and quick dribbles he is expected to make his official debut when the league resumes in Slovenia, hence he has picked up his favourite shirt number.

The former Nigeria U-23 man will dorn jersey number 11 for the team, a number he is hoping will bring good tidings to help him fufill the potential that once made him one of the most sought after teen prospect in English football.

Nigeria and Switzerland might go head to head for 21 year old defender Manuel Akanji who has broken into the first team set up at Swiss side FC Basel.

A full international for Switzerland at youth level, he is eligible for Nigeria through his father who is a Nigerian, but Nigeria are yet to establish contact with him to switch allegiance to the Super Eagles.

However, if he sustains his progress at FC Basel, a drag over his international future will no doubt take place in the nearest future, as Nigeria are presently trying to lure players with dual nationality to the senior national team.

Akanji scored one of the goals for his side in a seven goal thriller which his side edge 4-3 against Lausanne Sport, a game that also saw him go up against former Super Eagles star Taiye Taiwo.

Since joining FC Basel last season, the young centre back has made ten league appearances for the Swiss giants in addition to playing three more games in the domestic Cup, and a solitary appearance in the Europa League.

Arsenal Spanish forward Lucaz Perez is reportedly unhappy over his lack of game time at Arsenal, where he is being made to play second fiddle to Nigerian teen Alex Iwobi.

Perez has been very effective for Arsenal in Cup games, with goals in the UEFA Champions League and the Emirate FA Cup, but he has found games hard to come by in the League and also in key games.

Arsene Wenger favours Alex Iwobi ahead of the Spaniard in key games, and according to former Chelsea left full back Celestine Babayaro, Iwobi best understands how Arsenal plays than the Spaniard.

” It’s simple to see why Iwobi is playing ahead of Perez. Iwobi plays the Arsenal way, which is running into space and playing others in but Perez is a Spanish breed, he wants the ball at his feet”, Babayaro told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” Perez has to change his style of play if he wants to be picked ahead of Iwobi. He has to adapt to the Arsenal way, attack the space behind the defenders and play others in quickly”.

Ezekiel Bassey has said he is quickly adapting to life at FC Barcelona even as he expects to start playing official games for the Catalan giants immediately he secures his work permit.

The Enyimba winger was signed on loan by the five-time European champions in January for an initial six months’ with the possibility of signing for an additional two years if he impresses at the club at the end of the current season.

In a chat with the npfl.ng, the former Akwa United winger revealed that life at the home of the Catalan giants is totally unique, while stating that he is adapting very quickly.

“Life and football are totally different at Barcelona. I’m working very hard to quickly adapt because it is different. Already, there is that language barrier and all, so working hard is key to settling down very fast at the club. I have been welcomed and seen as a brother and a member of the Barcelona family since I joined them,” Bassey revealed.

He added: “Playing for Barcelona is a great privilege I’ll cherish for years to come. I’ll be playing soon, I’m actually back in the country to sort out issues regarding my work permit. I’ll resume immediately I’m done which should be in a few days. I can’t wait to play my first official game,” the former NPFL All-Stars winger stated.

A delighted Bassey also shared his experience so far at the club.

“It’s been a great start for me. I’ve had the privilege to train with some of the best players in world football. Yes, we’ve had a combined training of Team A and B, we do that twice a week. I’m already inspired and will work very hard to play with these very best players,” said Bassey.

Bassey is expected to depart Nigeria for Spain latest Friday.

*Courtesy- Npfl.com.ng

Sutton United amazing run to the round of 16 in the Emirate FA Cup has been brought to an end by Arsenal, after the Gunners secure a 2-0 win over the non-league side.

Alex Iwobi started the game for Arsenal who went ahead in the first half through a Lucaz Perez strike, and Iwobi almost doubled Arsenal’s lead before the half time break but his effort was deflected wide.

Unlike some of his teammates who struggled to give their best on the plastic pitch of Sutton United, 20 year old Iwobi helped the Gunners keep possession with some neat and well weighted passes for the duration he was on the pitch.

Nacho Monreal combined nicely with the Nigerian before squaring the ball for Theo Walcott to score the Gunners second goal and put the game beyond the reach of their less illustrious opponents.

Arsenal will next face Lincoln city another non league side in the quarter-finals with Iwobi expected to keep his spot in the team, that will take on Lincoln who have emerged the surprise package of the season.