Liverpool are likely to end Taiwo Awoniyi’s loan at Mainz this month, with the Nigerian striker the subject of interest from a host of European clubs.
The 22-year-old had hoped to shine when moving to Germany last summer, but has made just six appearances for the Bundesliga strugglers.
Only one of those was from the start, and Awoniyi was substituted at half-time in that game with Mainz down to 10 men away at Fortuna Dusseldorf. In fact, the forward has managed only 150 minutes in total for his club this term.
And with Jean-Philippe Mateta, Mainz’s main striker, having returned to action just before the winter break, it is anticipated that Awoniyi will find it even harder to get regular football in the second half of the campaign.
And with Jean-Philippe Mateta, Mainz’s main striker, having returned to action just before the winter break, it is anticipated that Awoniyi will find it even harder to get regular football in the second half of the campaign.
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Liverpool have the option to terminate the loan agreement, but will not do so unless a clear opportunity for game-time arises. They have not been short of interest, with Greek giants Olympiacos among those keen.
Ligue 1 trio Montpellier, Brest and Nimes are also understood to be monitoring the situation, while Turkish outfit Besiktas and La Liga duo Leganes and Real Mallorca have also made enquiries.
Liverpool intend to meet with interested parties in the coming days, but are aware that Awoniyi would ideally prefer to remain in Germany.
The Nigeria under-23 international joined the Reds in 2015 but has since spent his time on loan with the club unable to secure a UK work permit.
Spells at FSV Frankfurt, NEC Nijmegen and Gent failed to work out, but Awoniyi was impressive in two stints with Belgian outfit Mouscron. He scored 10 goals in 28 appearances during the 2017-18 campaign, then returned for the second half of last season and netted 11 times in 15 games.
Liverpool had fielded interest from across Europe last summer, and had intended to take him on their three-game tour of the USA in July, as back-up to Divock Origi and Rhian Brewster.
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But a thigh injury suffered a week before he was due to report for pre-season scuppered that plan. Awoniyi did not return to full training until mid-August, by which time Mainz had added Adam Szalai, the veteran Hungary striker, to their squad. Szalai, 32, has remained ahead in the pecking order, despite scoring just once in 14 Bundesliga appearances.
Mainz return to league action at home to Freiburg on Saturday, but the expectation at Anfield is that Awoniyi is unlikely to remain at the club until the end of the season. The question now is simply which proposal offers the best chance of regular football.
9 Comments
I was thinking he will b our next big tin in front of opponent’s post not knowing he will b Tori Tori around d Globe with loan moves !!
You are young and full of vigor.
Your potentials have not been harnessed.
Believe in yourself and you will be tagged a star soonest!!!
According to the article above, Ligue 1 trio Montpellier, Brest and Nimes are also understood to be monitoring Awoniyi’s desperate situation in Mainz.
Turkish outfit Besiktas and La Liga duo Leganes and Real Mallorca have reportedly also made enquiries.
For me, I feel really bad for the Under 23 international that they were not able to engineer a mechanism for him to stay at Mouscron where he scored 10 goals in 28 appearances during the 2017-18 campaign, then returned for the second half of last season and netted 11 times in 15 games – by far his most successful and productive spell as a professional footballer.
Taiwo Awoniyi remains there or thereabouts. His career has stalled but the future remains promising.
He is still a Liverpool player and they appear committed to loaning him out to clubs that will give him regular football to help hone his skills and maybe, just maybe find his way back to them – his parent club.
That said, the prospects of Awoniyi playing for Liverpool looks as remote as Omeruo’s chances of ever playing for Chelsea back then (some would argue that Awoniyi’s case is more dire).
For now, the task is to find him a club to play regularly and rediscover the sort of form that he displayed at Mouscron – then we can start to dare to dream of possibilities……
Awoniyi is young and needs to work harder and be injury free in other to make it back to Liverpool radar . It’s all bases on him and I do hope he gets a good club where he can have regular play time for time is getting shorter. This is the moment whwrw he will have to work harder to make it not only in Liverpool’s radar but also in Super Eagles as well…
let him go to france or spain.he will progress
Germany is never a good grooming ground for Nigerian players.Awoniy’s struggles is no surprise,Osimhen struggled in Germany likewise Chrisantus.
His best bet is to move to Spain or France.This two countries provides a smooth platform for African players who hone their skills playing in that part of the world.I hope he’s well guided on making the right choices for this proficient player.
That Chrisantus of a guy, pls where is he now? He’s never heard of within the National team circle. Really felt he could be our best bet in attack but he never grew to become whom many felt he will be.
chrisantus played for under17 when he was over 30 years of age just king osanga ,ganiyu oseni and the rest of that group they were men at their peak so naturally they could not grow more from there …
its nature , thats why am happy for the 2013 and 2015 group who were actually young you can see for yourself the difference ,
Germany does not really give black African players chance… Black players from Africa are really discriminated against in Germany… Chrisantus is playing in Greece… He was not really U-17 in 2007 though… Probably 23years then to be fair… Their set were not really allowed to grow… Apart from lukmam Haruna… None was ever invited to Eagles… They were supposed to constitute Egypt 2009 U-20 world cup team but Coach Ladan Bosso and Siasia discarded most of them… Right from then on they were naturally not allowed progression… Chrisantus first moved to HSV Hamburg and they never really played him. Back in those days the likes of Okocha and Kanu were still in Eagles and most players in Eagles then had permanent jerseys and parlours in Eagles… Otherwise how do we explained a situation where Aiyegbeni… Kanu… and Okocha played till 2010 world cup but not folks like Aghahowa and younger players?