Belgium top division side Genk look certain to build on their strong relationship with Nigerian players as they are close to conclude a deal to sign another Nigerian.

Currently the team has one Nigerian on their books in Paul Onuachu but this is so because of the departure of Cyriel Dessers few weeks ago. Prior to his leaving the team Stephen Odey also left for Denmark.

Onuachu who is still at the club will likely be joined by Yira Sor Collins of Slavia Prague in a deal that could see the former Nigeria U20 winger become their most expensive signing ever.

According to Voetbalnieuws, Genk have already tabled an offer of €10m to the Czech Republic side for the 22 year old. Both parties are now trashing out the final details of the deal.

A member of the 2019 Nigeria U20 team to the World Cup, he had a season to remember last term out scoring particularly in the Europa Conference League where he scored six goals in six games. He is a product of the famous 36 Lions FC based in Lagos.

The international future of Brighton and Hove Albion latest debutant Odele Offiah is as good as resolved despite strong interest from England, who are watching his progress, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Offiah made his debut for the English Premier League side in a 3-0 win over Forest Green. He was a 67th minute substitute for Deniz Undav as they book their passage to the next round of the tournament, where they will face Arsenal.

Born in England to Nigerian parents, the 19 year old who is comfortable as a centre back or full back is eligible for both countries but his sight is on representing Nigeria. Something which was made public three years ago before he turned 17.

“I am certain in the knowledge as a professional football scout that Odele is not only better than players in your current under 17 squad, but will undoubtedly improve your current squad’s chances of winning national tournaments,” the source told Completesports.com in 2019.

The source however warned that if the Nigeria national team handlers continue to ignore him then he might probably give in to pressure to play for England if he get called up.

“Ultimately, if Nigeria do not select him, at some stage England will! I
simply can’t understand how he has gone under Nigeria’s radar.”

The Italian media was awash with stories about Cristiano Ronaldo joining Napoli yesterday evening.  A move which will see Victor Osimhen move in the opposite direction to join Manchester United.

Per a report on Tuttosport, the next big media outlet to report the news after Sky Italy. The move is currently being put together by the agent of Cristiano Ronaldo who is keen for his client to play in the UEFA Champions League. Which is on offer at Napoli.

Jorge Mendes approached Napoli with a smart idea on how the move will happen including how Ronaldo will join on loan while Osimhen will move to Manchester United for a fee of €100m payable in three years. In addition to that Osimhen will earn around £10m a year. A massive upgrade on what he presently earns at Napoli.

Mendes has already identified how Napoli will be able to cope with Ronaldo’s salary of around £23.5m a year. Already the first two months totalling £4m has been paid and for the remaining £20m, he said Man Utd will pay 75% while Napoli takes up the rest.

Already the agent of Osimhen Roberto Calenda has been briefed about the move and while he is keen on his client spending another year with the Italian side. The amount proposed in the deal is forcing him to have a rethink and consider the offer.

Osimhen is also looking very sharp this season with two goals in his first two games of the season. He could however end the rest of the season at a new club if the explanation by Tuttosport is anything to go by.

Italian Serie A champions AC Milan came into the summer transfer window needing reinforcement in midfield following the departure of Franck Kessie on a free transfer to Barcelona.

Kessie’s departure created a void that the technical hierarchy of the team were tasked with filling before the close of the transfer window. That led to a list of targets out of which they settled for Nigerian midfielder Raphael Onyedika.

They swung into action almost immediately by submitting a bid to his club FC Midtjylland but the bid which is said to be around €4m was rejected by the Danish side. Another bid of around €6m was also rejected.

Milan were told it will cost at least €10m to prize the Nigerian, a fee they consider excessive hence walked away from the deal and reports has it that they have move to other options on their list.

For Onyedika, it’s looking likely that he won’t stay at the club despite the fact the move to Milan won’t be happening. Belgium side Club Brugge are close to signing him for around €5m. A deal that the player and club feel is better for his development.

Onyedika wasn’t sold on the idea of going to Milan because he isn’t sure of getting game time. Something that he has been promised at the Belgium side. He feels regular playing time will aid his development and place him in good position for a better move in the future.

Talented players with dual nationality most times spark tug of war between countries interested in luring them to play international football for them especially when they have played at a certain level or league.

Nigeria have been very active in luring players with dual nationality as the present team consists of eight players born outside the country with some even representing other countries before switching allegiance to Nigeria

In this case, Malcolm Ebiowei of Crystal Palace will in the coming months make his decision on his international future after a bright start to life at the English Premier League side.

Ebiowei trained with the Nigeria U17 team of 2019 but didn’t make the cut for the tournament. He has however made remarkable stride the past few years and he is now seen as one of the teens who could have a breakaway season at Selhurst Park.

Speaking on the 18 year old, former Chelsea defender Celestine Babayaro says if it is true as reported that he has decided to play for Nigeria, then it can be term as a coup because he has what it takes to play for England in the future.

” I saw him in a Carabao Cup game and his quick feet is a beauty to behold when he is on the move. That his uncle (Finidi George) is a member of the coaching crew of the Nigerian team gives them an edge and if it’s true that he had agreed to play for Nigeria, safe to say it’s a coup”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

As the close of the summer transfer window draws near, a lot of players are expected to be on the move with teams now desperate than before to get deals over the line.

While some players will make permanent moves, others might be loan deals and that is the case with Portuguese side Mafra and two Nigerian players who recently joined the team.

Three days ago, the second division side announced that an agreement has been reached to sign 18 year old Nigerian midfielder John Kolawole on a four year deal.

He was a part of the Nigeria U17 team which played at the 2021 WAFU B Championship in Togo, which Nigeria lost 2-3 in the final to Ivory Coast. Yesterday they announced the signing of  another Nigerian in Obule Moses.

The 18 year old left footer who is comfortable on either flanks but can also play in midfield joined the team on a loan deal from U19 team of Danish side FC Midtjylland.

It’s no secret that English Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers are in the market for a striker as they bid to improve on last season’s finish.

They have only scored one goal in three English Premier League games this season and coach Bruno Lage hasn’t hidden his desire to bring in more fire power in attack before the close of the transfer window.

As the clock ticks towards the end of the transfer window several names have been mentioned as possible options and it includes Nigeria international forward Terem Moffi.

Lorient are willing to let go of the forward but only for a fee which should be in excess of around €20m. A sum that teams who have monitored the forward see as excessive particularly as he didn’t match his previous season’s tally last season.

He scored just 8 goals last season, seven less than his tally of 14 Ligue 1 goal in his debut season following his move from Belgium side Kortrijk. It made teams have second thoughts about the 23 year old.

Reports in France suggest that Wolves failed with an offer a little over €10m with add ons but some other reports say he isn’t among the options they are looking at. Their priority still remains Stuttgart forward Sasa Kalajdzic.

A clear picture will be known in the coming days but from all indications, it appears Moffi might spend another season at the Ligue 1 side.

The top scorer in the Italian Serie A last season Ciro Immobile has predicted the number of goals he expects the top strikers in the division to score.

Immobile who is gunning for his second consecutive top scorer award ended last season with 27 goals, four more than Dusan Vlahovic who finished with four goals less with Lautaro Martinez third with 21 goals.

Looking into the two weeks old season, the Lazio forward who was also top scorer in the 2019/20 season told DAZN how he expects strikers in the Italian top division to perform this season.

He picked Nigeria Victor Osimhen in his list and placed as many as six strikers ahead of the Nigerian this season when it comes to the amount of goals he expects them to score at the end of the season.

“Lukaku will score between 20 and 25 goals, Lautaro between 13 and 18. Vlahovic? More than 20. The three Milan strikers (Giroud, Origi and Rebic, ed) will score overall 30-35 goals, those of Atalanta (Zapata and Muriel, ed) 25-30 goals. Osimhen? I say 19. Jovic no more than 15. Abraham? He will make 15-20 “, he told DAZN.

The performance of William Troost Ekong and his central defence partner Edo Kayembe has drawn harsh words from coach of Watford Joe Edwards after his team crashed out of the Carabao Cup following a 2-0 loss to League One side MK Dons.

Edwards watched his side deservedly beaten by a Dons team who fielded five 19-year-olds in their starting XI and currently sit 22nd in League One. As expected he didn’t hide his disappointment over the result of the game. He blamed certain individual errors for the defeat particularly in central defence.

Ekong was handed his first start of the season at the heart of the defence alongside Kayembe and both players were culpable for the goal which broke the deadlock during the course of the game.

An error between the duo allowed Will Grigg near the left touchline to latch onto the ball and pass to Louie Barry, continuing his run to slide in his teammate’s low centre at the far post before painfully colliding with the frame of the goal. The goal scorer was able to continue though, after receiving treatment as the Hornets trailed at the break.

That error got punished but it could have been punished a lot earlier when they made another error very early into the game. Their sloppiness twice open the door for MK Dons to score after the goal. Edwards didn’t hide his disappointment at the error after the game.

“There were some individual errors, and errors that we then couldn’t recover from. Sometimes when you make a mistake then you want your mate to be able to help you out. We couldn’t do that and we got punished.

“You don’t expect that kind of basic error. When they happen you hope you can recover from them, but we didn’t.”