U-23 Eagles forward David Okereke is a transfer target for Skybet Championship club Derby County, reports Completesports.com.
Okereke, 21, has impressed for Italian Serie B side, Spezia this season scoring 10 goals and providing 12 assists in 30 league appearances.
According to a report in Italian news outlet Calciomercato, Derby County have joined the queue of clubs interested in prying the Okereke away from Spezia in the summer.
The Rams will face Aston Villa in the Championship playoff final this weekend and will look to secure the services of the powerful forward once they secure promotion to the top flight.
Derby County however face serious competition for the striker with Newcastle United and Serie A clubs; Atalanta, Cagliari and Sassuolo also said to be interested in signing Okereke.
Belgian clubs RKC Genk and Standard Liege as well as Dinamo Zagreb of Croatia have also been linked with the player.
By Adeboye Amosu
19 Comments
I bet this guy is better than Kalu. Goals return, dribble ratio,end product crossing. Next Auba in the making.
Really
Good but i will advise him to go to newcastle because Rafa Benitex will bring out best out of him,good luck bro
We are so quick to compare players, we should watch him graduate to A team first, and let him continue in his fine form before we can begin to compare him to any of our A players in the Super Eagles.
Our players should begin to aim at bigger clubs of this world, we want to see them play their. In the past we have been there, but, for whatever reasons why non of our players is in Man U, Man City, Liverpool, Juventus, Ajax, Barcelona, Real Madrid , bayern etc, is still a surprise to me.
there (correction)
If David gets good offers from Serie A clubs, I would advise him to accept, and stay away from EPL clubs. Apart from very few exceptions, EPL has not been a very favourable league for our players. It’s not about the quality of the players, but something about the natural style of play that the Nigerian players grow with. Our game is more about skill and finesse with a burst of speed at the final third. This is markedly different from the EPL game where pace is the dominant thing from defence to the opponent goal, from kickoff to the end of the game. Ironically such style has not translated into success for the English National team or even continental success for the English clubs (except in an odd season like this current season – such success has been very rare for English clubs). The style of the Nigerian game is more suited for leagues like the La Liga, Serie A and the French Championat. The tactical discipline that our players lack can still be enhanced in those leagues. I do not believe playing in those leagues make our players inferior. On the contrary playing in a league that a player is naturally adapted to, brings out the best in the player and helps in confidence building to achieve his best potentials, and in the process also enhances the players international career. I’m tired of seeing too many of our promising young-stars diminishing at their prime because of the allure of playing in the EPL. I know money can be a big factor, but overall the player loses more if his growth is stagnated due to lack of game time in an unsuitable league.
David Okereke will not be able to play in England unless he has an Italian passport. That is because he will have to be an international player for two years AND play 75% of games for Nigeria in that time.
Given that he has only played one (or is it two?) Games at under 23 level for Nigeria, they will sign him and send him out on loan.
Better for him to stay put or play in a league that will allow him a permit to work. Otherwise he can turn out like Omeruo, Onyekuru, Awoniyi Nwakali. Not settled and not knowing what will happen every end of season until 2021.
Ah….@ Big D. Thanks very much.
I have read a few Nigerian media outlets where this Okereke’s name keeps springing up for a move to EPL, with so many sobriquets like ‘the new Aubameyang’ the new this, the new that…and i’m tempted to ask does this kid qualify for a work permit…??? I’m yet to read any foreign medias prop his name up on their transfer portal. Or is this just some PR job to make sure he his called up to the Eagles…??? Because we’ve seen that over and over again and its almost becoming a soapie. Even on this forum, we keep seeing new names dropped on daily basis, including players whose performance levels all season isnt even up to half of fringe players that havent been lucky to make the eagles squad yet.
Idiot who call you here? Make thunder fire your mouth Ewu. If i call him new Auba what is your business he dey pain you?
Hihihihihi…..a mad dog on the prowl…! LMAO
I bet you i know how to get you the jungle has a king and that i will relay to you. Monkey wey no hear word na one shot dey end matter.
Hahahahaha…just look at how hard the mad street dog is struggling to make an impression. Go and be king in your cave. Common illiterate. LMAO
True that… But if he followed similar path as Umar Sadiq did then he would have obtained his passport.
what path is the @ Onwa. You can help shed more light sir.
@Dr Drey, apologies. Just found out that Umar married an Italian.
Aahh…no qualms my brother…! But mehn….if your tor na true, e be say Umar na sharp guy o…! Lolz. The boy quickly tidy oyinbo make ministry for move go permanent site.
Idiot this confirms your low self esteem. Poverty street thinker wonder why i dey waste time on you. Lol
Hhahahaha…who has low self esteem between the two of us now…? You are low self esteem itself. Your posts on this forum show that, so bad for you that ypu cant even hide it. Lol.
Not only are you a filthy street dog, you also do not comprehend simple english, that is why your brain did not tell you that myself and Onwa were refering to the path Umar took to obtain a work permit in the UK at such a young age despite not having been a signed as a top talent, or as a national team player.
Your level of poverty is so bad that you can even reason like a human being anymore….you’ve been hounding around like a street dog for so long that you now reason like a donkey. Oponu ayirada…!
Who is this Aleks guy,I love your analysis like kilode,absolutely spot on.