With the summer transfer window just around the corner, clubs are drawing up their shopping list, dusting their purses, and calling their bankers
Several Nigerian footballers have excelled throughout the 2021-22 season and are already drawing attention from major European clubs.
Soccernet.ng highlights the top ten Nigerian stars who could prominently feature on many clubs’ shopping lists.
10. Peter Olayinka
Club: Slavia Prague
Market value: €7 million
After spending four years at the Czech Republic giants, winning three consecutive league titles and two Czech Cups, Olayinka may be saying his goodbyes this summer.
He particularly impressed in the Europa Conference League this season, where he notched four goals and an assist in ten appearances as a winger. The 26-year-old is not short of suitors. He is reportedly wanted in Turkey.
9. Anthony Nwakaeme
Current club: Trabzonspor
Market value: €5 million
Like old Biblical wine, Nwakaeme keeps getting better with age, recently helping Trabzonspor win the Turkish Super League at 33.
He is adored in Trabzon, but a move to any of Fenerbahce and Besiktas could be on the cards should the Black Sea Storms fail to meet his salary demands. The one-cap international is out of contract next month.
8. Joe Aribo
Current club: Rangers
Market value: €10 million
Joe Aribo could see a further rise in his value should he win the Europa League and Scottish Cup in the coming weeks. Rangers are in the final of both competitions.
Crystal Palace are one of the sides likely to be watching both games with keen interest, and the Eagles could swoop for the Nigerian playmaker should he lift both titles. What better way to prove your Premier League credentials?
7. Emmanuel Dennis
Current club: Watford
Market value: €8 million
Watford’s relegation from the EPL has confirmed one thing: Emmanuel Dennis will be playing for another club next season.
Brought to England for €4 million, the former Club Brugge star would be cheap at his current market value after contributing ten goals and six assists in his maiden Premier League campaign.
Villarreal are eyeing a move for him.
6. Cyriel Dessers
Current club: Feyenoord
Market value: €3 million
Many are closely monitoring the situation around Dessers, with Feyenoord presently holding all the cards regarding his signature.
The Rotterdammers are, however, cash-strapped and could kick-start a scramble for Dessers if they fail to commit him to a permanent deal by the end of May.
Surely, there will not be a shortage of admirers for the Europa Conference League’s leading goalscorer at €4 million.
5. Moses Simon
Current club: Nantes
Market value: €10 million
Six goals, eight assists in Ligue 1, triumph in the French Cup, and an all-time high market value of ten million euros, this is without doubt, the best times of Moses Simon’s football career.
Could it also be the best time to switch to the Premier League?
Emmanuel Dennis excelled there with little trouble. Why not Simon?
Leeds and Newcastle were interested in the 26-year-old winger in January, and the duo could be back in July.
4. Paul Onuachu
Current club: KRC Genk
Market value: €17 million
It remains a footballing mystery how no club snapped up Onuachu last summer after he scored loads and loads of goals for Genk.
The tall striker has, however, seized the opportunity to show that he is not a one-season wonder.
And with Genk willing to lower their astronomical asking price for the Nigerian, a dream move to England appears to be only a signature away.
3. Umar Sadiq
Current club: Almeria
Market value: €18 million
Almost every week for the past two years, Umar Sadiq has shown he is a class above the Spanish second division, and one way or the other, he is saying goodbye to the Segunda this May.
Sadiq could decide to stay at Almeria and experience La Liga with the Rojiblancos. La Union will secure promotion with a win over Alcorcon next weekend.
Or he could say ‘Yes’ to the dozens of English, German and Spanish clubs – even Manchester City and Bayern Munich were once linked – that are guaranteed to queue up for his signature.
2. Taiwo Awoniyi
Current club: Union Berlin
Market value: €15 million
It is a testament to his brilliant year that Awoniyi is widely expected to return to England just twelve months after leaving Liverpool permanently.
The highlight of Awoniyi’s time in Berlin is hitting 15 league goals and becoming Union Berlin’s all-time leading goalscorer in the Bundesliga.
His powerful, all-action style is a perfect fit for the English Premier League, and West Ham are reportedly working behind the scene to make it a reality.
1. Victor Osimhen
Current club: Napoli
Market value: €60 million
Undoubtedly Nigeria’s hottest property in the transfer market, Osimhen is torn between staying in Naples or leaving for pastures green abroad.
€100 million is a hefty transfer fee by any standard, and Napoli could sanction a deal should any of the interested parties, including Manchester United, Arsenal, and Newcastle cough out that sum.
Transfer market value source: Transfermarkt.
