Super Eagles vice-captain, William Troost-Ekong is on the verge of sealing a move to Greek Super League club, PAOK Salonica.
According to Greek news outlet, Sportime, PAOK Salonica, who are three-time Greek League champions have reached an agreement with Sky Bet Championship club, Watford to sign the defender.
Watford will receive €1m as transfer fee for Troost-Ekong.
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The centre-back spent the second half of last season on loan at Serie A club, Salernitana.
Salernitana however failed to take up the option to sign him on a permanent deal.
The 29-year-old scored once in nine league appearances for the Garnets.
Troost-Ekong has previously played for clubs in the Netherlands, Turkey, and Italy.
By Adeboye Amosu
13 Comments
Saleritana took the option of not signing Troost which means his quality not good enough and coming from a small Italian club,an embarassing state of affairs for a vice captain of the super eagles.
Now he’s moving to Greece from a top five European league compounding the already unpleasant situation.
You are so right. Ekong makes mistakes
too much. Olisa Ndah is far better than him. Even Ebube Duru will perform better.
Not good enough for EPL (didn’t play a game for a year ).
chop bench yafull for English second division
Rented a space in the bench of lowly rated serie A team after initial gragra)
Now thrown out of top Europe to 5 .
Got no pace, poor marking and ball playing skills, loss of concentration under minimal pressure but will still be considered for SE and captain armband..
Picnic made him the captain because of the fear of Leon Balogun fearlessness.
Picnic got a rubber stamp captain and a yes yes guy in Ekong and got away with everything..
It’s time to start giving opportunities to more active defenders foreign born like Aiwu,Tosin,Osho, Onye.
We can also begin to groom younger ones Federick, Oguche..
You are absolutely right there……Ekong has finally joined the group…..A group that knows that their football is downhill and all that is left for them is to cling to the national team like a drowning man…….Secure a mushroom club in a mushroom league that will guarantee you playing time to makes sure people don’t raise eyebrows for your continued inclusion in the national team….. Prevent upcoming players from stepping up and gather enough national team caps just to remain relevant in football affairs……This trend is dangerous for the national team because it reduces the strength of the national team…… What is the need of participating in almost all under age FIFA tournaments if we won’t refresh the national team……. What is the need of holding thousands of football clinics and scouting programs across the nation yearly if we won’t refresh the national team……. what is the need of monitoring foreign born talents who are doing well in Europe if we won’t refresh the national team…… Talents are cropping up every day in Nigeria and we make things harder for them and ourselves by holding unto these dead weight players who will not use our national team caps to increase the standard of our national team……Tosin Adarabioyo is ready to mount that center defense…….Caleb okoli is ready to take that role……Ndah is already being courted by a serieA club in Sousulo and if that move happens and he gets playing time in the SeriaA then he is ready to mount that center defense……. Akpoguma is still playing in the Bundesliga and we can make him replicate what he does in Germany when he plays for us by giving him more confidence and freedom and also playing him in his natural position…….Osho is also coming up because he will future in the EPL this coming season…… Bassey is also capable of playing center defense if given the confidence….. Top5 Leaguers should be the minimum standard for all SE players who are above 23 simple…….All this nonesence has to stop…….we must evolve because no team succeeds by doing the same thing over and over again.
@Hope Akpan, you have said it all.
*Europe top 5*
Peseiro is compromised…..If we had a good coach and a transparent football house, player selection will be on point and on merit. Fredrick and Ogwuche should be goomed to take over that spot…I think we should forget Adarabioyo as I have a feeling he is playing games. Basseyis hot and cold and unreliable at times.
What about Calvin Bassey? You didn’t mention Tyrone Ebuehi who can also play centre back. Ekong needs to retire.
For the central back position.
Based on availability and capability
Aina (can play all defensive positions), Frederick and Ogwuche(grooming and are even ripe for friendlies), Ndah (if he improves), Semi(the best in recent SE outings), Onye, Osho, Ogbu, and Akpo should be considered
Tomori, Aiwu and Tosin are our best options, only if they are serious about playing for SE.
On the other hand, I think the SE handlers are making a huge mistakes about Aina. Until we hire at least an above average coach in technical and mental capability, the SE team will continue to underperform.
The major problem is the nff. The worst nff president in history (Picnic) handpicked his stooges to continue the directionless and corrupt practices he developed.
Until these disloyal thieves are completely roved from the affairs of the nff, it will be difficult to make meaningful progress.
Brazil is hiring one of the top coaches in the world and our nff is imposing failures like Pesseiro and their shady guy man Amuneke, who has refused to develop.
How Ekong still gets playing time in the Super Eagles is beyond me. Dude is a liability. Man dem will even trust Ebube Duru in that position. All these jingoist fans will be clamouring for mediocrity.
Larry, you’re right, move Aina to defensive midfield, let him replace Ndidi, he has move skills,more soccer sense,, plus he’s a better passer of the ball. We must be bold to make serious adjustments, sentiments aside some players needs to be pushed aside.
Akanlo Ede aka Solo Makinde is angry with Ekong. Solo Makinde is gay. He toasted Ekong, and Ekong turned him down. That’s why beef is on.
Akanlo Ede aka Solo Makinde, leave Ekong alone. He say he no wan do. No be by force.