Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel who is closing in on a transfer away from the club after 11 seasons is not having the best relationship with coach Antonio Conte.

Chelsea are currently top of the table in England, but the Nigerian has not played a part in their rise to the top of the table as he is yet to play a game this season.

Conte has frozen Mikel out of the first team set up for competitive games since taking over the team in the summer, and it appears there’s more to it than just keeping him out of the squad.

” No one knows what is happening and why Conte is treating Mikel this way, They have not talked for a while, as a matter of fact he has talked more about Mikel to the press than to the player himself,” Mikel’s intermediary friend told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” They don’t have a relationship the last time I checked, it will be better Mikel leaves and that is exactly what he will do in few weeks time, when the transfer window reopens in January”.

AS Trencin of Slovakia Nigerian defender Maduka Christopher Udeh says he is hopeful of making the Super Eagles squad to the World Cup 2018 in Russia.

Udeh who has been ever present for Trencin this season in both domestic and European competitions has earned rare reviews for his performances this season.

So far he has made 15 appearances in all competitions with a goal to his name from his position as a central defender, where his towering frame has earned him the nickname Metesacker by the media in Slovakia.

The nickname is due to his height and similar style of play with legendary German defender Per Metesacker of Arsenal, but the forward wants to create an identity for himself.

” I love the idea behind the nickname, and I sincerely appreciate but I just want to be me, build my career and hopefully be at the World Cup 2018 in Russia with Nigeria”, Maduka told Owngoalnigeria.com in Kaduna.

Linked with a host of teams in Germany, the 19 year old insist he is focused on improving his game and not keen on a move away from Trencin.

” You don’t rule out transfer as the dream of every footballer is to progress to a tougher, bigger and better league, but for now am fully focused on Trencin and making myself a better player”.

Super Eagles hard working midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo has joined the trio of Leon Balogun, Brown Ideye and Kenneth Omeruo on the treatment table as the first half of the season wind up in Europe.

Etebo missed CD Feirense 2-0 loss to Maritimo yesterday in the Premeira Liga, and reports indicate that he was dropped from the squad after picking up a knock, which he didn’t recover from before yesterday’s game.

His case is similar to that of Leon Balogun, who was also missing through injury when Mainz 05 thrashed Hamburg 3-1 in the Bundesliga, ending their winless run in the league.

Another Super Eagles player Brown Ideye was also missing from his team game at the weekend, and reports suggest that the Olympiacos forward is out injured until next year.

Meanwhile Kenneth Omeruo who recently moved to a new position as defensive midfielder for his Turkish side Alanyaspor was missing from their 0-0 draw against Akhisar Belediye Genclik Ve Spor, reports suggest that the on loan Chelsea midfielder is nursing a slight injury.

Former Kaduna United and Nigeria U-17 left foot dazzler Femi Balogun has emerged as one of the key players for promotion chasing Portuguese second division side Desportivo Aves.

Balogun joined the team from relegated side Farense in the summer as a free agent, and so far he has been pivotal to their push to gain promotion to the top league in Portugal.

CD Aves are currently second on the log standing, four points behind leaders Portimonense after 19 games, and Balogun has played in all but three of their games this season.

Although he is still searching for his first goal, the former Athletico Baleares star has been among the livewire of the team in attack, picking up three assist so far including one in their last weekend 3-1 win over Penafiel.

23 year old Balogun played for the Nigeria U-17 team of 2007, before sealing a move to Spanish second division side Atletico Baleares in 2012.

He spent two years with Olhanense after leaving Spain for Portugal in 2013, a short stint in Cyprus with Ermis ensued before his return to Portugal last season.

According to reports exclusively gathered by Owngoalnigeria.com, Godwin Obaje and Chisom Egbuchulam will both sign four and half year deal with Tunisian side Etoile Du Sahel tomorrow.

They both passed their medicals which was done today according to a source close to the deal, and final details of their deal will be sorted out tomorrow, ahead of their official unveiling.

The duo finished as first and second top scorers in the Nigeria Professional Football League, with Obaje scoring 18 goals for Wikki Tourist while Chisom finished two goals behind him with 16 goals for champions Enugu Rangers.

Already they have both trained with the Nigeria senior national team, although they fail to make their debut in the 2-1 World Cup qualifiers win over Zambia in Ndola.

However while their signing appears to be straight forward same can’t be said about Ibrahim Alhassan popularly referred to as Mu’azam who is undergoing trials with the team.

Mu’azam wasn’t offered a straight deal, but he has reportedly done well in the trials which could see him land a deal but not until next week according to our source.

According to reports English table toppers Chelsea are willing to allow midfielder John Obi Mikel leave Stamford Bridge for free in January, despite having six months left on his deal.

The decision to allow the 29 year old leave for free was reportedly conveyed to him few months ago, when it became apparent that he has no spot in coach Antonio Conte’s squad.

Owngoalnigeria.com gathered that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich gave the directive to allow the current second longest serving Chelsea player leave for free as reward for his long, dedicated service to the team.

Throughout his stay at the club, he has not broken any club rule and has been very faithful and loyal to the various coaches, especially the way he has handled his current situation at the club.

However he is not the first player to have been allowed to leave for free by Chelsea in recent time with Andriy Shevchenko and Fernando Torres also benefiting from same treatment in the past.

Former West Ham United of England forward Emmanuel Emenike has spoken out about his unhappiness with the way fans of Fenerbahce are treating him.

Emenike back after a season out on loan, started this season on a high but suffered a dip in form that saw him drop out of the starting line up, and most recently out of the squad on match days.

Reports in the Turkish press claim he is unhappy with coach Dick Advocaat while some reportedly said he had a fall out with Dutch defender Gregory Van Der Wiel.

” I am like a prisoner at Fenerbahce, I give everything to the team, just like I have done at Spartak Moscow, Al Ain and West Ham, I don’t know why am treated this way”, he said.

” Why am I always the sinner, I still can’t find an answer to these questions. With all due respect I do nor deserve what am getting in return”.

Coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria Gernot Rohr has provided update about the future of three Nigerian players, who have all been linked with possible move away from their present clubs.

The manager first gave an update on the situation of captain John Obi Mikel who is yet to play a competitive game for Chelsea under coach Antonio Conte.

” I saw Obi Mikel in London”, Rohr told Europe 1. ” He is in advanced discussions with Olympique Marseille. ” He will leave Chelsea for free, this is a serious option”.

On Oghenekaro Etebo, the Franco-German coach of the Super Eagles said, it’s best for the talented 20 year old to complete the season with CD Feirense before thinking of a move in the summer.

” Etebo is fine where he is now. He is playing games which is very important for his development, moving in January is not ideal at least for now” Rohr, told Owngoalnigeria.com.

He also passed a vote of confidence on Leicester City bound Wilfred Ndidi, describing him as a player who can play multiple roles on the pitch above average level.

” Ndidi can play anywhere across the back four and also in the midfield. He has a bright future ahead of him, from what have seen of him, he can play more than five roles with less trouble, he will do well in any club”.