French Ligue 1 side are open to the idea of trading Josh Maja in when the transfer window opens in January as they bid to raise cash in order to ease their financial troubles, Owngoalnigeria.com understands.

The 21 year old striker who made his debut for Nigeria coming on as a late minute substitute in the 2-2 friendly draw against Ukraine last year is courting interest from English Premier League side Sheffield United with coach of the team Chris Wilder a big fan of the former Sunderland forward.

He will cost around six to seven million euros according to reports. A fee the English side can afford easily but they are not the only team in for him as English Championship side Birmingham City are also tracking his situation in view of a move for his service.

Since joining Bordeaux from Sunderland for a fee around €1.7 million Maja has scored a total of 11 goals in 45 games with three assists and at a point this season he was the first choice striker of the Ligue 1 side who are in dire need of cash to stay afloat.

20 year old Abraham Ayomide Marcus has put himself in the good books of top teams in Portugal with yet another goal for Feirense in their 2-0 win away to Varzim, his 4th in 7th league game.

The former Remo Stars forward has also picked up three assists this season which is his breakthrough season following his promotion from the U23s to the main team.

He is presently rated as the best player of promotion chasing Feirense who are second on the log with 24 points as they bid to return to the Portuguese top division.

Already top teams have been linked with the winger who can also operate in midfield with his coach at Feirense U23 Rui Ferreira saying he has already exceeded expectations.

According to Ferreira he has taken to life in Portugal a lot quicker than expected due to his talent, dedication and hard work as well as attention to coaching details.

John Nwankwo forward was the strange name in the starting lineup of Elche ahead of their game against Atletico Madrid which ended 3-1 in favour of the Madrid based side.

For Nwankwo he lasted 45 minutes before getting substituted which what looked more like a tactical switch made by the team during the half time break as they were 0-2 down.

The 20 year old operated as a centre back but he is more at home as a midfielder and that was the role he played when he made his debut in the 2-1 Copa Del Rey win over CD Bunol three days ago.

Even though his LaLiga debut lasted just 45 minutes his rise from the B team of Elche to the main team in less than a year is a testament to how highly rated he is at the club.

Signed from the C team of Villarreal in the summer he was immediately sent to the youth team who are in the lower division in order for him to get regular run of games to aid his development.

He holds Spanish citizenship but his Nigerian roots means the national team selectors of the various national team of Nigeria will have to put an eye on his progress.

For now he hasn’t represented any of the nations he is eligible to play for which means he won’t be needing a nationality switch if he decide to commit his international future to Nigeria.

18 year old Bayern Munich defender Jamie Lawrence who is a member of the U17 team of Germany has Nigerian roots, Owngoalnigeria.com reports.

The defender has been tipped for early promotion to the first team of Bayern Munich after excelling with the youth team where he has played in 12 games this season in all competitions.

He joined Bayern Munich in 2017 from Kirchheim Youth and in just three years he has progressed from the U16 to the U19. A rise that has also seen him play two games for the U17 team of Germany before making the step up to the U19.

“ His father is a Nigerian who got married to a German. So to answer your question he is eligible to play for Nigeria in the future. That is not a debate for now as he is just starting his career. When we get to that bridge we will cross it”, a member of his representative team Talent and Pros by Solutions told this portal.

When the Super Eagles of Nigeria regroup for the resumption of the qualifiers for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, the team will likely play with two new names in midfield.

Owngoalnigeria.com exclusively gathered that coach of the Nigerian team Gernot Rohr has lined up Reading duo of Michael Olise and Ovie Ejaria as his new combination in midfield.

The duo have lightened up the English Championship with back to back impressive performance for Reading keeping them in the hunt for a promotion spot to the English Premier League.

Ejaria who represented England at youth level has already applied for a switch of allegiance and it is expected to go through at the turn of the year for him to be eligible for Nigeria.

Olise on his part played for France at youth level and despite his rating as one the most exciting player In the Championship he hasn’t been a part of the French youth team set up for a while.

Rohr plan to use the duo alongside Wilfred Ndidi in what will be a new Look midfield for the Super Eagles of Nigeria with the coach hoping it will bring an end to the creative issues bothering the team.

Present number ten of the team Alex Iwobi is expected to be shifted to a role on the flank where he has excelled for Everton this season under coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Fresh from another impressive performance for Fulham in their 0-0 draw against Brighton and Hove Albion Ademola Lookman has certainly gotten his form and confidence back.

The 23 year old struggled for form and confidence all through last season when he made a permanent switch to German side RB Leipzig, six months after impressing while on loan at same club.

He was loaned out to Fulham and so far he has been one of their best players as they aim to preserve their English Premier League status following promotion to the English top flight.

On the international scene, he has his sight on helping Nigeria seal a spot in the 2022 World Cup which will take place in Qatar after filing in papers to switch his nationality to Nigeria.

Lookman is expected to be cleared by FIFA before the Super Eagles next round of games in March next year making him eligible to represent Nigeria at the qualifiers.

Hoffenheim defender Kevin Akpoguma says more players of Nigerian descent in Germany are itching for the chance to represent the senior national team of Nigeria.

Akpoguma has played four games for Nigeria since accepting to commit his international future to Nigeria despite representing Germany at several youth levels.

His switch bring to four the number of players who are eligible to play for Germany and Nigeria but have opted for the senior national team of Nigeria. Leon Balogun, Maduka Okoye and Kingsley Ehizibue completes the list.

Speaking on their decision , Akpoguma said it’s usually satisfying to play for the country of your parents with the extra spice of experiencing a different culture and style of play.

“ It’s a whole new experience from the culture to the style of play. It’s fascinating and satisfying to be honest. More players who have Nigerian roots in Germany are interested in playing for the senior national team of Nigeria and it’s nothing but pure love”, he said.

Out of favour Nigeria international goalkeeper Francis Uzoho will be allowed to leave Cyprus side Apoel Nicosia in January as he bid to get his form and shape back.

Uzoho hasn’t kept a league game for the team since returning from the injury he sustained while on international duty with Nigeria in the 1-1 friendly game against Brazil on the 10th of October last year.

The Nigerian who impressed while on loan from Deportivo La Coruna to another Cyprus side in Omonia Nicosia before his permanent move to Apoel Nicosia has been second choice to Miguel Silva since his return to full fitness after a year off.

Reports from Cyprus has it that the team is open to allowing the goalkeeper leave on loan as he is unhappy about his current role as second choice which has also cost him his spot in the Nigeria national team.

His lack of game time has seen him drop from the first choice after the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations to not getting invited for the entirety of their games this year with Maduka Okoye the new first choice.

A loan move to a team where he is sure to get game time will no doubt aid his quest to reclaim his first choice spot from Okoye who has been very impressive for Dutch side Sparta Rotterdam.

Benjamin Frederick of Simoiben Football Academy has received high praises from two highly rated scouts who paid a visit to the football academy that is funded by Super Eagles winger Moses Simon.

Benjamin impressed the Belgian duo of Storme James Emiele and De Bruyne Bart Willy who were in Kaduna for a week to train and also run the rule on some players of the team.

“ I haven’t seen a 15 year old that good in my years of coming to Nigeria. His ability is beyond his age and I am not trying to flatter anyone, It’s purely base on what I saw in the youngster”, Storme told Owngoalnigeria.com.

Speaking in the same vein Bart said he is surprised that the 15 year old isn’t a part of the Nigeria U17 team because he is clearly the best he has seen at that age since he started coming to Nigeria.

“ I saw Ndidi at the age of 17 but he wasn’t this assured and complete as a centre back. This boy called Benjamin is the best I have seen in my years of coming to Nigeria. He is not party of the U17 team and that itself is a shock”, Bart concluded.

Bayern Munich 19 year old forward Joshua Zirkzee says his senior international future is still undecided despite playing at various youth level for the Netherlands.

Zirkzee is eligible for Nigeria as well and they have been talks that the West Africa country will attempt to tempt him with a spot in their senior national team if he agrees to switch allegiance.

With 28 appearances for the Dutch youth side where he rose from the U15s to the U21 scoring a total of 14 goals in the process he has however played only twice for the U21 despite his fine form For Bayern Munich.

Speaking on his chances of progressing to the senior national team of the Netherlands, Zirkzee said while it remains one of his goals he won’t entirely shut the door on the chance to play for Nigeria as well.

“ You never know what the future holds but for now the aim is to be part of the senior national team for the country I have represented at various levels but at senior level it’s entirely different because Nigeria is also an option. I never close the chance of playing for them”, he said.