The search for a creditable option to replace Kim Min-Jae who has joined Bayern Munich is one of the priority of Italian Serie A champions, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Bayern Munich trigged the release clause of €50m contained in the contract of the 26 year old, who was key to the team lifting the Serie A title for the first time in 33 years.

He was voted the best player in the Serie A in what was his debut campaign and only in the league. Replacing him has become a priority considering the role he played for the team last season.

Former Germany youth international Felix Uduokhai is one of the names on their list after he refused a new deal at German side Augsburg. His decision has left the club with no option but moving him on this summer as they risk losing him for free, with one year left on his deal.

Twice approached to switch allegiance to Nigeria by former coach of the Nigerian team Gernot Rohr, the 25 year old is reportedly interested in the move, although he has other options to consider.

Daniel Martins

The chance of Nigeria having former Germany youth international Jordan Torunarigha for their final Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers game against Sao Tome and Principe has taken a huge knock, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Torunarigha represented Germany from U16 up to U23 level but has now decided to pledge his international allegiance to Nigeria, a move that is coming five years after he turned down the chance of a possible World Cup appearance with Nigeria.

In 2018, he claimed he turned down the chance on the advice of his father, a former Nigeria international in Ojokojo Torunarigha but he said he feels he is more suited to the pressure of playing for Nigeria now.

His wish has however suffered a set back with sources saying the Gent defender is yet to get the necessary papers to complete his switch of nationality process from FIFA. His application is yet to be approved.

There is no timeline for the approval, a situation which has put his chances of representing Nigeria in September in huge doubt, even though the coach of the Nigerian team Jose Peseiro is keen on having him for the game in Uyo.

Osas Mahawi

The hierarchy of Italian Serie A side AC Milan have made the signing of Nigeria international forward Samuel Chukwueze from Villarreal a priority before the end of the current transfer window, OwnGoalNigeria.comreports.

Milan have been locked in talks with Villarreal for the 24 year old but despite reaching an agreement on personal terms, there is still no breakthrough in the talks over his transfer fee owing to different valuations.

While Milan want to pay a fee of €25m plus add-ons, Villarreal are demanding for a €35m fee with add-ons taking it to the €40m. So far they have refused to back down on their demands despite the fact that Chukwueze has a year to go on his contract at the club.

They have refused to walk away from the deal, especially with the loss of Arnaut Danjuma who was few details away from joining the team but opt out in preference for a move to English Premier League side Everton.

Chukwueze’s camp are also keen on the move, which is putting Villarreal under pressure to lower their demands although they expect Milan to also up their bid, which will be lodged in the coming days.

Daniel Martins

The battle for the left back spot of the senior national team of Nigeria is one that has been narrowed down to the duo of Calvin Bassey and Zaidu Sanusi, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Since the appointment of Jose Peseiro as coach of the team , the duo have rotated the left back spot despite the invitation of Ebube Duru and Bruno Onyemaechi, they still kept their spot as the first choice options in that position.

However, their dominance is about to be challenged by Jamilu Collins, who is back to full fitness after missing the entirety of last season through injury for Cardiff City, few months after he joined the team on a free transfer from German side Paderborn.

Collins has been heavily involved in his team’s build up to the new season and he told OwnGoalNigeria.com that he is sure he will reclaim his spot and add to his tally of 26 caps for the senior national team of Nigeria.

” I just have to be the man for my tean and earn a call up to show what I can do. Last season was very difficult for me but spending time away from the game has made me a better player in several areas. All of those lessons will help me in my quest to reclaim my spot when the time comes’, the 28 year old said.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The Abia State Government has declared that Mr Ifeanyi Ekwueme, the reported new Sporting Director of Enyimba, is “unknown to the Government.” This revelation was made on Tuesday in Umuahia by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Mr Chinedu Ekeke.

Mr Ekeke, who doubles as Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Alex Otti said this while reacting to questions from Aba-based Journalists who paid him a courtesy call on Tuesday.

On Monday, the football space in Abia and the country was heated when a memo surfaced from Mr Ifeanyi Ekwueme, directing all members of the Enyimba technical crew, staff and management to re-apply for their jobs within 48 hours. This led to different interpretations, with some media houses reporting that Finidi George had been sacked.

Mr Ekeke waved off the memo and its contents. He wondered why the management of the club would tell the coaches to re-apply when they have valid contracts and have important matches ahead in the CAF Champions League and other engagements.

In a press release made available to newsmen on Monday evening by Kazie Uko, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, the Government urged the public to disregard contents of the memo, as no such directive was issued by the Government and management of the club.

The memo was signed by Mr Ifeanyi Ekwueme, as Sporting Director of Enyimba for the Chairman, Kanu Nwankwo.

This calls into question Mr  Ekwueme’s appointment and also raises questions as to where he derived his powers from, to represent the club in official functions.

Interestingly, sources close to the club say the State Government is keen to quickly bring back Mr Jude Anyadufu, the former brilliant Sporting Director of the club who is widely known across Nigeria and Africa for his dedication and service to the People’s Elephants.

Bethel Kalu

The vice captain of the senior national team of Nigeria Kenneth Omeruo is expected to say his farewell to the players and technical crew of Spanish second division side Leganes, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Omeruo has been at the Spanish side since 2017, initially on a one year loan deal from Chelsea before making it permanent a year later. They were in the LaLiga when he joined them but got relegated two seasons ago.

Appointed as club captain last season, he is leaving the club after they opted against handing him a renewal with a year left on his deal. He is set to return to Turkey, where he had two separate loan spells while at Chelsea.

He is expected to decide on joining either Kasimpasa or Alanyaspor in the coming days. Omeruo spent the 2017 season with the former and 2018 with the latter in two separate loan spells.

Sources in Turkey says Kasimpasa, where he left a very good mark are currently ahead of Alanyanspor in the race for his signing. Last season he made 22 appearances, no thanks to a two month injury lay off.

Daniel Martins

Italian giants AC Milan will later today hold decisive talks with Spanish LaLiga side Villarreal over their plans to sign Nigeria international winger Samuel Chukwueze, OwnGoalNigeria.com understands.

AC Milan are keen on signing Chukwueze but an agreement on the transfer fee for the 24 year old with Villarreal, where he has a year to go on his deal has been the major stumbling block towards making the move happen.

While Milan are open to paying €25m, Villarreal values Chukwueze in the region of €35m and have refused to back down on their valuation even in the face of the fact they could lose him for free in a year time.

Today’s talks will go a long way in determining if the Italian side will proceed with the idea of the Nigerian or switch targets. Already they have lined up Villarreal Nigerian born winger Arnaut Danjuma with talks over a loan deal going on well.

Danjuma spent last season on loan to English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur but failed to nail a permanent spot in the team. A few of around €3m will be able to secure him on loan despite Villarreal demanding €4m.

The idea according to seveal sources is to sign him alongside Chukwueze, but if Milan refuse to drop their valuation then they will settle for the Dutch international, who plays from the right like his fellow Nigerian.

Born in the ancient Nigerian city of Kaduna to a Nigerian mother and a Dutch father, he is a full fledge senior international for the Netherlands with six caps. He progressed from the U22 to the main team in 2018 after turning down an approach from Nigeria to play for them under erstwhile coach Gernot Rohr.

Daniel Martins

Details of the meeting between Nigeria international forward Victor Osimhen and the president of Napoli Aurelio De Laurentiis has emerged, effectively putting an end to speculations linkin him with an exit from the Serie A champions, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

In the meeting which was attended by Osimhen and his agent Roberto Calenda, it was agreed that the 25 year old will extend his current contract which has two years to run till the summer of 2027.

However, this time around the deal will come with an exit clause of around €100m and a salary in the region of €7m a year is what is being discussed as his new salary. A rise from his previous pay of around €3m.

Osimhen has however not agreed in totality to the content of the deal, insisting on lowering the release clause plus a salary that is close to €10m a year. Napoli are hopeful they will find a breakthrough in talks to keep the forward.

Aside from the content of the deal, Osimhen has also demanded an improvement on the squad that won the league for the first time in 33 years in order to keep them competitive. Especially with the fact that some players will likely leave the team top of which is top defender Kim Min-Jae, who has already said his goodbye as he closes in on a move to Bayern Munich.

Daniel Martins

Former Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy who was recently discharged and acquitted from allegations of rape has joined French Ligue 1 side Lorient on a two year deal, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Mendy lost two and a half years of his career to the allegations, which saw him underwent two separate trials by a jury before he was found not to be guilty of the charges labelled against him by eight different ladies.

As part of his return to football he has teamed up with modest Ligue 1 side Lorient, where he will be a teammate to Nigeria international Innocent Bonke, who has been at the club for two years.

Last season 27 year old Bonke made 25 league appearances clocking 1,182 minutes despite battling with injuries and fitness issues for almost three months. He is eyeing regular game time next season after returning to full fitness.

Bonke has four caps for the senior national team of Nigeria, the last of which came in the 1-2 friendly loss to Mexico under new coach of the team Jose Peseiro on the 29th of May 2022.

Damian Waziri