The Managing Director of German side Union Berlin Oliver Ruhnert has explained the logic behind their decision to part way with the sum of €6.5m to sign Taiwo Awoniyi from Liverpool.

Awoniyi spent last season on loan at the club and scored five goals in 22 Bundesliga games before injury cut short his fantastic run in the team but he has already made his mark.

Explaining the decision to sign him permanently, Ruhnert told the official website of the club that the robust nature of his play and unconditional will to learn proved decisive in their decision to pay the record fee.

“We got to know and appreciate Taiwo last season. His robustness, his enthusiasm and his unconditional will to learn and develop further were the decisive factors for us to work towards this transfer with all our might. The fact that we actually succeeded is thanks to the efforts of everyone involved to find a suitable solution, ”Oliver Ruhnert said.

Speaking on the move, Awoniyi said he is happy to have finally found a home at the club after years of making temporary move. He said he hope to match same height like he did last season before he suffered the injury that slowed him down.

“I am happy to finally arrive after the many rental stations in recent years and have a home. I owe so much to Union and the fact that I have now been given a firm commitment makes me happy and proud. It’s fantastic that I can continue to go down the great path with the club. I’ll give everything to pick up where I was before my injury, ”said Taiwo Awoniyi.

President of Napoli Aurelio De Laurentiis has hinted that the failure of his team to qualify for the UEFA Champions League might lead to a situation where wages of high earning players will be slashed.

The president made this known while speaking on the financial condition of the team as the wage bill has gone beyond what the club currently generates, no thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.

“It is not a problem not to have gone to the Champions League, the problem is that we have gone from 30 million salaries to 50, 75, 120 and today to 156 million. It is obvious that we must first of all heal this problem, Napoli spends figures that he does not invoice and must review salaries based on what he earns”, the president explained.

Presently Victor Osimhen (€5.4m) is among the highest paid players at the club with only the likes of Kalidou Koulibaly, Piotr Zielinski, Kostas Manolas, Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne earning more than him.

For now there is still some way to go before the pay slash will be implemented as the club is looking to move on some players before the end of the current transfer window and that will no doubt reduce the wage bill to an extent.

Taiwo Awoniyi has left Liverpool training camp to seal a permanent move to German side Union Berlin for a fee believe to be in the region of €6.5m.

Awoniyi was granted a work permit enabling him to play for Liverpool for the first time since his move to the team in 2015 but that won’t be happening next season.

He is already in Germany for medicals with Union Berlin where he spent last season on loan and scored five goals in 22 games in the Bundesliga.

His move will bring to an end his long wait to have a permanent team after several loan deals since he joined Liverpool. He is expected to sign a five year deal with the option of a further year with the German side.

We gathered Liverpool also included a sell on clause in the deal and they will earn 10% of his future transfer from the Bundesliga side. No idea for now if the deal has a buy back clause.

Fringe Nigeria international Frank Onyeka has arrived England after sealing a €10m move to newly promoted English Premier League side Brentford from Danish side Midtjylland.

23 year old Onyeka finally got his visa to travel to the United Kingdom two days ago and he will now resume training as he has already received his work permit as first reported by this portal.

His move also makes him the most expensive purchase ever by Brentford as his £8.5m signing puts him ahead of Ollie Watkins who was signed by the club for £6.5m In the 2017/2018 season.

Coach of Brentford Thomas Frank sees him as a player who is suited to the English Premier League with his main attribute of breaking up play and initiating attack as his main strength aided by his physical appearance.

Last season he played in 41 games for Midtjylland in all competitions playing as a defensive midfielder in 32 of those games and 7 as a central midfielder. He scored four goals and had four assists.

Nigeria international and Leganes defender Kenneth Omeruo says Genk should allow Paul Onuachu get his dream move to leave the club this summer as he was worked hard to earn a move.

Genk are open to allowing the lanky forward who scored 25 goals last season leave the club this summer but their valuation of the 26 years old has so far made it impossible for interested teams.

They want a fee in the region of €20-25m, a sum which clubs have struggled to meet as they come to terms with the financial reality of losses suffered due to the coronavirus pandemic.

West Ham are the leading contenders for his signature but the move has suffered several setbacks with many suggesting that they could back out of a move if a deal isn’t reached by the end of this month.

Reacting to the situation of Onuachu, his international teammate with the senior national team of Nigeria Omeruo said this is the best time for him to leave and Genk should show understanding.

“ This is the best time for him. It is true the market is quiet so the club has to adapt to the change and let him go to a better club. This season might not be like last one. I hope he does better but it’s football you never know.

“So they have to adapt and let him go to a better and bigger club. He has worked hard to earn it. My thoughts though”, Omeruo posted on Instagram.

Nigeria U20 midfield ace Nnamdi Oforboh is upbeat that he will be back playing soon after manager of Rangers of Scotland Steven Gerrard revealed he has issues with his heart.

Oforboh joined the Scottish champions on a free transfer but his career has now been placed on halt after a routine heart check revealed some defects that requires medical attention.

Gerrard made this known after their 2-2 draw against Arsenal in a pre season game on Saturday while speaking on the reason why the Nigerian hasn’t been involved in pre season games so far.

“I don’t think you’ll see him in the short term,”he told Rangers TV after Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal. Unfortunately something has flagged up with his ECG, which is the heart test.

“We’ve got top medical people here at the club now and we check all the players thoroughly from head to toe when they arrive.

“Unfortunately there’s been a bit of a red flag with a heart issue so he’s going to see some specialists in the coming weeks and we need to do more tests before we move forward.

“It’s disappointing and frustrating but we’ll have to manage and cope.

“The important thing is the player’s health, which we’ll obviously focus on first and foremost.

“Of course it is disappointing and frustrating for the player but I spoke to him yesterday, told him to keep smiling and be patient and we will do everything we can to support him, get him in front of the right people and the right support and hopefully he will be back, not too long.”

Reacting, Oforboh said “ God has a purpose for your pain. A reason for your struggle and a reward for your faithfulness. God is the only reason I have made it this far. I will be back”, he posted on Instagram.

Newly signed Crystal Palace midfielder Michael Olise will not take up the option of playing for Algeria at senior international level as he has narrowed his options to just Nigeria and France.

Olise is eligible for all three countries but despite Nigeria placing him on standby in their squad for the final round of AFCON qualifiers he is yet to decide on his international future.

The 19 year old who earned a move to Crystal Palace on the strength of his near faultless performance for Reading last season in the English Championship isn’t in a hurry to make a decision yet.

Although he has represented France at U18 level, the interest from Nigeria has turned his head and he is now seriously contemplating playing for Nigeria at senior level.

His representatives led by his agent were not so happy with the decision of the Nigerian coach Gernot Rohr to list him in his squad as a decision hasn’t been reached by all involved.

However the idea of representing Algeria who were also keen on him after discovering that he qualifies to play for them via his mother has been shelved for now.

23 year old Nigerian forward Stephen Odey has been told he is surplus to requirements at Belgium side Genk upon his return from a loan spell in France.

He was tipped to be among the forwards who might be given a look in with fellow Nigerian Paul Onuachu expected to depart this season, but they have moved swiftly for another Nigerian in Ike Ugbo.

Ugbo is expected to seal his move in the coming days from Chelsea after impressing for Cercle Brugge last season and he will compete with Cyriel Dessers for a role in attack with Odey told he can leave.

Odey was sent on loan to French Ligue 2 side Amiens but his return of six goals in 28 games wasn’t considered good enough by Genk to hand him a spot in their pre season squad.

He has been relegated to the B team alongside the duo of Sebastien Dewaest and Ivan Fiolic as the club step up preparations for the start of next season.

The new coach of Napoli Luciano Spalleti says Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has all the qualities of a complete striker after his four goals in their 12-0 win over Anaunia in a pre season game.

Osimhen proved his worth to the new coach by hitting four goals on a stretch after Eljif Elmas has given them the lead. Further goals from Kostas Manolas and and Stanislav Lobotka helped Napoli to a 7-0 half time lead.

Spalleti changes the entire outfield players for the second half but they still managed to hit five more goals to take scores to 12-0. Osimhen did enough to earn the praise of the manager.

“We want to stay in the opposing half of the pitch. Above all with someone like Osimhen in attack. I am having the same positive feelings as when I arrived. I saw the qualities that I already assumed the Napoli players had. Now we wait for the others”, Spalleti said.

“Osimhen it will be a point of reference and strength. He is a complete player. He has the qualities of the Champion. He knows how to score and how to make the team play, despite this he has things to improve with work. The important thing is that it gives the availability it is giving “