The number of Nigerian players at newly promoted English Premier League side Watford has risen to six following the signing of Dapo Mebude from Rangers on a free transfer.

19 year old Dapo joins the club after a spell on loan with Scottish Championship side Queen of the South last season. He ended the season making 11 appearances scoring twice in the process.

Following the expiration of his deal with Rangers he penned a two year deal with Watford with the option of a further two more years base on the success of the first term.

Although he has played for Scotland at Under-17, 18 and 19 he is still eligible for Nigeria and was once tipped to be a part of the U20 team of 2019 under coach Paul Aigbogun.

Watford now have six players eligible for Nigeria with the already capped senior international quartet of Isacc Success, William Ekong, Emmanuel Dennis and Oghenekaro Etebo. Ex Nigeria junior international Tom Dele Bashiru is also at the club same as the relatively unknown Joseph Hungbo.

Ex England international John Fashanu says Bukayo Saka’s fearless approach for England at the ongoing European Championship is a function of his Nigerian heritage.

Saka has risen from the player who was rumored to be among those dropped to one who has so far cemented his spot in the starting lineup ahead of Sunday’s final against Italy.

The fearless approach of the Arsenal teen has been the major talking point of his rise to the starting lineup, something which Fashanu who had one cap for England says has a lot to do with his Nigerian background.

“ You don’t get so many 19 year old playing that way. Very few and he is one of them but I see them a lot in Nigeria. That fearless approach is inbuilt for Nigerians. Forget that he is representing England his fearless approach is typical of Nigerians”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

” As a youngster growing up I was like that and many said same about my fearless approach. It’s a Nigerian thing”.

Former Nigeria junior international striker Taiwo Awoniyi has been named in the squad of Liverpool for their pre season camp in Austria starting from Monday 12th July.

Jurgen Klopp named a strong 34 man squad for the camp where they intend to stay and prepare ahead of their engagement next season as they bid to reclaim their English Premier League crown.

Awoniyi who has been out on loan for five seasons since joining the Reds in 2015 will be part of the squad after he was granted a work permit to play in England.

Liverpool have so far rejected all bids made for him despite their willingness to let him leave according to several reports in the British media.

He will fight for a place in the squad with the likes of Mohammed Salah, Sadio Mane and Divock Origi with the duo of Diego Jota and Roberto Firmino due to join up with the squad next month.

They were given extended break due to their involvement in continental tournaments at international level with Firmino warming up for Sunday’s Copa America final against Argentina.

In their absence, Awoniyi will be keen on impressing Klopp and the technical staff as he push for a crack at the first team after a fairly successful period on loan last season to German side Union Berlin.

Former Nigeria U20 midfielder Samuel Nnoshiri has joined Spanish second division side Real Oviedo, OwnGoalNigeria.com understands.

Nnoshiri pulled out of the senior national team of Nigeria friendly game against Mexico due to the trip to Spain to seal the deal. He is still awaiting his visa to travel and complete every other formalities of the deal.

We gathered even though he is yet to have his medicals, the final paper works for the deal was done earlier today and an official announcement is expected anytime soon.

The left footed midfielder who is also comfortable on the flanks exploded in the Nigeria Professional Football League two seasons ago at his hometown club Heartland FC of Owerri.

He last represented Katsina United in the Nigeria Professional Football League before leaving for Spain. Sources also revealed that he is a cousin to the Nwakali brothers in Kelechi and Chidiebere.

Nigeria international midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo has completed a loan move to newly promoted English Premier League side Watford from Championship side Stoke City.
Etebo will spend the rest of the season at the club with four other Nigerians namely William Troost Ekong, Isacc Success, Emmanuel Dennis and Tom Dele Bashiru. Watford have the option of turning the loan deal into a permanent one at the end of next season.

Last season Etebo was sent on loan to Turkish side Galatasary but they refuse to take the option of signing him permanently at the end of his loan with injuries and fitness issues blighting his time at the club.

Meanwhile, OwnGoalNigeria.com gathered that shortly after the medical which took place around 2pm he was told he will be playing in a different role which is an advanced role as opposed to the deep lying midfield role.

He will operate in a more advanced role, a role which they feel best suit his all action style of play and one which he made his own in the early stages of his career in Europe while at CD Feirense of Portugal.

The recently concluded scouting program which took place in Abuja hosted by TBC Academy in conjunction with DN10 has opened the door for two teenagers to have trials with Atletico Madrid.

As many as ten scouts were at the event which lasted for five days and aside player who were picked to go to other teams, two were handed a chance by La Liga Champions Atletico Madrid.

They are the DN10 duo of Abuchi Onuoha and Nelson Nwankwo and they are expected to depart Nigeria in the coming days to begin a two weeks trials.

OwnGoalNigeria.com gathered that the idea is to have the duo spend time with the youth side of the team from where their progress will be tracked for promotion to the main team.

Popular Nigerian agent Babawo Mohammed who is the brain behind the deal said players picked from same tournament to clubs in other countries have already started their documentation.

“ We have started the process for others going to teams other than Atletico Madrid. We are waiting for some documents to start theirs. However the rest picked for other countries will start leaving next week”, he said.

21 year old Southampton forward Michael Obafemi is mulling over his international future with the Republic of Ireland after failing to add to his solitary cap he had in 2018.

Since playing ten minutes for the senior Irish national team in the UEFA Nations League 0-0 draw against Denmark on the 19th of November 2018. He hasn’t been part of the set up.

Per the new FIFA rules on switch of nationality he remains eligible for Nigeria and with the 2022 World Cup around the corner, it’s an option he is willing to explore.

Already contacts has been made with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) but final decision rest with coach of the team Gernot Rohr who has severally said his team need more options in attack.

Last season Obafemi struggled with injuries and fitness making him play a total of nine games in all competitions with just a goal. He scored four goals in 21 games the previous season.

English Premier League side West Ham have been told the valuation of Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu who is heavily linked with a move from Genk.

Last week the agent of the Nigerian was in London where he held meetings with clubs interested in acquiring the services of the Nigerian who ended last season with 35 goals.

The tally earned him the award of the Best player in Belgium aside the top scorer award and as expected it has led to interest from teams around Europe playing in more established leagues.

Onuachu’s dream is to play in the English Premier League and at 27 with the type of numbers he had last season he is pushing for a move to England ahead of any Ofer this summer.

“ Clubs have been told it will cost €15m with add ons that will take it to €20m. That is his valuation not the viral €26m rising to €30m after add ons. This was discussed with teams in England and a bid is expected from one soon”, a source close to the player told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

West Ham are presently leading the queue for his signing but see his valuation as something in the region of €10m rising to €15m. A formal bid is expected to be lodged soon.

Lille are close to completing the signing of Nigerian winger Samuel Chukwueze from Villarreal, OwnGoalNigeria.com understands.

Following rumors of an offer from Lille, our editorial team made inquiries from sources close to the player and they confirmed that a deal is indeed close.

One of them confirmed that all parties involved in the deal are already deep in talks with a transfer fee in the region of €40 million plus several add ons the topic of discussion.

Already his nursery team in Nigeria Diamond FC have been contacted over the deal as they own a certain percentage of his future transfer as agreed when he joined Villarreal in 2017.

However the move is subject to the winger passing a routine medical which looks unlikely at the moment as he is out injured. The timing of his return will play a role in the final details of the transfer.

Highly rated Nigerian winger Hilary Gong is entering his fourth season as a player of Dutch top division side Vitesse Arnhem with a different kind of mentality after overcoming his injury demons.

Long term injuries including two cruciate ligament injuries has restricted the 22 year old to just 13 appearances most of which came as a substitute, but he is enjoying a new lease of life in pre season games.

So far he has started in all of their pre season games, a sign that he is back to full fitness “ Injuries are part of life as a top athlete. Everything has a purpose. This is my destiny”, Gong told regional Dutch newspaper De Gelderlander from their training camp in Zeeland.

“ Everything went wrong for two years. Last season I hit the road again but slowly I do not give up. I keep faith in myself knowing fully well that in football you must go through tough and rough period. With God’s power and Vitesse has supported and helped me in everything. I’m fit now and want to show my qualities”, he said.

With his style of play leading many to tag him as a very similar player to Liverpool star Sadio Mane, Hong says he want to turn his main asset which is his pace into a weapon of success at Vitesse next season.

“ I have to turn my speed into a weapon again. The power is back and the knee feels good. Last season I was able to get some minutes. Not much but that’s a start. Rhythm and ball feel provide confidence. So I have to get playing time and train hard.

“ The basic principle is good football. Work hard and enjoy the Gong Run on the pitch, that’s what it’s all about”, he concluded.