Nigeria international defender Chidozie Awaziem is set of a return to French Ligue 1 side Nantes from MLS side Colorado Rapids, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Awaziem is familiar with the club as he spent the 2017/2018 season on loan to them from FC Porto. He was close to joining them in 2022, but due to the complex nature of his deal with Boavista the deal didn’t materialize.

An agreement has however been struck this time with his MLS side Colorado Rapids for a deal worth around €1m, that will see him sign a three year deal after just six months with the United States outfit.

The 28 year old has played for numerous clubs: Rizespor (Turkey) in 2019, Leganés (Spain) in 2019-2020, Boavista (Portugal) in 2020-2021, Alanyaspor (Turkey) in 2021-2022, Hajduck Split (Croatia) in 2022-2023, Cincinatti (United States) in 2024 and then Colorado, still in MLS.

At international level , he hasn’t been in the frame since the 2023 AFCON where he was a bit part player for the Nigerian team, that went all the way to the final before losing 1-2 to the host Cote d’Ivoire.

Daniel Martins

Atlético Madrid is working on a deal to sign Nigeria international Ademola Lookman deal from Italian Serie A side Atalanta, OwnGoalNigeria.com understands.

According to football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Lookman is highly appreciated my Diego Simeone and he wants to add him to the attack of his team, despite the signing of Thiago Almada from Lyon.

Simeone is strongly pushing for the deal, but they face huge competition from Italian champions Napoli who are also in the running for the Nigerian. Sources say they are leading the race for his signing because he prefers to remain in Italy.

The reigning Africa player of the year is open to leaving Atalanta, where he is a cult hero after firing them to their maiden European trophy with a hattrick in the final of the UEFA Europa League against Bayer Leverkusen, which handed them a 3-0 win in 2024.

Atalanta will demand for a fee in the region of €50m, but in the main time he is back in training with the team preparing for the start of next season. His exit is however highly possible.

Nigeria international forward Kelechi Iheanacho is facing an uncertain future at Spanish side Sevilla with the lack of clarity and proper explanation to explain his absence from their pre season training camp, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Iheanacho was supposed to be in the camp, but a report by the club say he is absent due to a stomach ailment and hasn’t been able to train for a week. That explanation has however taken a different twist.

Iheanacho shared an image of himself yesterday, where he appears to be running on an elastic band. Clearly contradicting the club’s statement on the reason why he isn’t in their pre season camp, which has been on for a week.

Since joining the team on a free transfer from Leicester City, the anticipation that he will make an impact hasn’t happened and it was why he was sent on loan to English Championship side Middlesbrough. Another move which didn’t go as expected.

Since the break , he has been working double shifts with his personal trainer pushing to be at his physical best in the event that there is clarity about his future, which is expected in the coming days.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Angered by the slow pace of the deal for Victor Osimhen to join Galatasary from Napoli, a fan of the Turkish side has sent a message of threat to the son of the president of the Turkish side, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Edoardo De Laurentiis, the son of Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis got the messages of threat via WhatsApp from a Galatasaray supporter, with both teams locked in talks over the sale of the Nigerian in the past one week.

He responded to the threats by saying he will contact the police and ensured that the individual is brought to books. On the transfer issue the major issue is the payment of the release clause contained in Osimhen’s contract which is around €75m.

Galatasaray have submitted a significant offer for Osimhen — reportedly €70m with bank guarantees — but Napoli remain adamant about receiving €75m in full, and with strict conditions, including a clause that would prevent the striker from joining another Italian club.

Napoli are also insisting on a 20 percent sell on clause among the conditions for the deal to happen.

Daniel Martins

Italian Serie A giants Juventus have joined the list of teams who are taking a look at Nigeria international midfielder Raphael Onyedika, who plays for Belgium side Club Brugge.

Capped 16 times by Nigeria, he had his best season last time out distinguishing himself in not just the league but also in the UEFA Champions League. He drew praises from head coach of Manchester City Pep Guardiola before their game, which he eventually scored in.

Onyedika who has a contract till 2027 is expected to leave the club in the summer transfer window, and Juventus who are in the market for a replacement for Everton bound Douglas Luiz have shown interest in the 24 year old.

However while Juventus will be willing to offer a transfer fee in excess of €15m, reports say Club Brugge values Onyedika in the region of €35m, and it’s largely why teams like West Ham, Atalanta and AC Milan haven’t followed up their interest with a bid.

Daniel Martins

The champions of Cyprus Pafos FC have their sight on signing 28 year old Nigeria international defender Chidozie Awaziem from MLS side Colorado Rapids, OwnGoalNigeria.com understands.

Pafos FC are gearing up for the UEFA Champions League qualifiers and part of the area of their team that requires strengthening is the defence, where Awaziem is seen as a prime target.

This season he has played in 19 league games in the MLS, and sources say he is interested in the move with an eye on having one more crack at top football in Europe but a deal at the moment is far from agreed.

Awaziem has fallen out of international recognition with the senior national team of Nigeria since playing a bit part role at the 2023 AFCON. His subsequent move to the MLS from Portuguese side Boavista hasn’t helped his case to stage a comeback to the team.

He has been in the Nigerian team since 2017 with former coach Gernot Rohr rewarding his rise through the ranks of FC Porto with a national team chance. Sadly he hasn’t been able to build on that rise.

Daniel Martins

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has taken a huge interest in young Leonard Ngenge of Nigeria Premier Football League side Ikorodu City, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Ngenge is in the camp of the Nigerian team preparing for the upcoming CHAN tournament under the supervision of Chelle, who is fully in charge with the duo of Fidelis Ilechukwu and Daniel Ogunmodede relegated to the role of assistant coaches.

Chelle has been drilling the team for a week, and will see them play their first test game in the build up to the tournament on Thursday. He has already marked Ngenge as one for the future.

He sees the teen defender, who is left footed and also stands at an impressive height of over six feet tall as very similar to Benjamin Fredrick, who he gave his debut at the Unity Cup.

The idea will be to have him join the main Super Eagles team in training in the nearest future. A proper test of his readiness for the pressure that comes with international football will be seen at the CHAN championship.

Already he has been linked with a move to English Premier League side Leeds United when he turns 18, even though he recently moved to NPFL champions Remo Stars. It’s said to be a short term deal, which will aid his development and experience before the move abroad as he will play in the CAF Champions League.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Former Nigeria U17 striker has joined top division Portuguese League side Famalicão on a five year deal following the expiration of his contract with Belgium side Gent, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Abubakar turned out for the B team of the Belgium side in the youth league, where he finished as top scorer in the division with 21 goals in 27 games, earning himself the club’s youth player of the year award.

In what was seen a shock decision, the club opt against offering him an extended deal and also fresh terms leading to his exit. They made a last ditch attempt to make him have a u-turn but his mind was already made up.

A shock omission from the Nigeria U20 team that campaigned at the last AFCON, he will go straight into the first team setup of Famalicão , and will be the backup striker to the main man in attack per what we gathered.

His choice of Famalicão was largely influenced by the promise of first team action, and it was largely why he shunned a couple of teams in Belgium and also in Spain who were also interested in signing him.

In the wake of reports linking Nigeria international forward Sadiq Umar with a potential move to the Turkish League, the president of Real Sociedad has given his opinion on the future of the 28 year old.

Reports in Turkey say Samsunspor who finished third last season have started discussion with the Nigerian, who has two years to go on his deal but is free to leave at a cost to be determined by his present club.

Besiktas and Trabzonspor have also been credited with an interest for the lanky forward who spent the second half of last season on loan to Valencia, where he scored six goals in all competitions.

That fairly good run is why the president of Real Sociedad Jokin Aperribay say they won’t be in a hurry to listen to offers for the Nigerian, who they value at €10m. Half of what they paid to sign him three seasons ago from Almeria.

“They are two good players who have not had luck at Real. Sadiq scored six goals in the second half of the season between La Liga and the Cup . We have to stay calm, we’ll see how we strengthen the attack, if we do, but we don’t feel pressure to leave one or both,” the president said about Sadiq and his teammate Carlos Fernández, who is also not in the manager’s plans, despite his involvement in pre season training.

Sadiq has been given an extended break, and is expected to join their pre season camp today although his agent is aware that Sergio Francisco is open to his exit.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman