Super Eagles defender, Azubuike Egwuekwe is on the verge of joining the GLO Nigerian Premier League exodus to Europe.
Egwuekwe, 25, has been linked with the likes of Panathinaikos, Penafiel, West Ham United, Watford and Udinese in this January transfer window.
Greek giants, Panathinaikos have reportedly opened talks with Egwuekwe’s agent over a possible move this winter whilst Portuguese side, Penafiel has proposed a five-month loan deal but his parent club, Warri Wolves, are only looking to sell the big central defender.
It is believed Egwuekwe’s camp prefer a switch to England but may be faced with difficulties in getting a work permit.
Over the last two years, the 25-year-old has not played 75 percent of national team matches, which is a prerequisite for obtaining a work permit for foreign players in England.
Egwuekwe was recently in London on trial with English Premier League side, West Ham United and hugely impressed West Ham United manager, Sam Allardyce and his coaching staff.
The London side have tabled an offer of £500,000 for a contract of three and a half years as they try to find a replacement for want-away defender, Winston Reid. West Ham is also reportedly offering a £15,000-a-week wage for the 2013 AFCON winner.
However, the offer falls short of the asking price of the player’s agent which is £1.2m whilst Warri Wolves are holding out for €300,000 as the transfer fee.
Egwuekwe, who is currently training with Super Eagles ‘B’ team ahead of a friendly against Yemen on Saturday, last week made known his desire to move overseas.
“Offers are coming from overseas, I have an offer from an EPL club, the (English) Championship and from Russia,” he disclosed.
“I am still a part of Warri Wolves, but at the end of this month, I hope to say ‘bye bye’ to Warri Wolves.”
Egwuekwe has featured for Nasarawa United and Warri Wolves in GLO Nigerian Premier League. He made his international debut in 2012 and was part of Super Eagles squad to the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, 2014 African Nations Championship, 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and 2013 AFCON where he received the first winners’ medal of his short career.
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This article was first published on 15th January 2015
arinzeude
Arinze Ude is a PhD Student at the University of the West of England Bristol, UK, where he's exploring on the mechanisms of donor cell leukaemia. He shares his deep thoughts on his blog and the Naked Convos. He is keen to promote personal development of the Nigerian youth via thought-provoking articles.
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