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Everton, Forest eye Onyedika

By Daily Sports Nigeria on February 29, 2024

Everton, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace are among the Premier League clubs keeping tabs on Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika with the Nigeria international potentially on his way to England.

HITC Football understands that the 22-year-old enforcer, who was part of Nigeria’s squad at the 2024 African Cup of Nations, could be the latest big-money departure from Belgian giants Club Brugge.

The Jupiler League outfit have sold the likes of Charles de Ketelaere, Lois Openda, Sofyan Amrabat and Arnaut Danjuma in recent transfer windows. Striker Igor Thiago, meanwhile, will join Brentford for around £30m in the summer.

Now, with a host of English clubs showing an interest in Onyedika, Club Brugge could make another substantial profit on a player who has proven to be excellent value for money in the blue-and-black stripes.

HITC have been informed that, in addition to Everton, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace, Onyedika also has admirers at Thiago’s new employers Brentford. Leicester City are in the race too. Enzo Maresca’s Foxes are still well-placed to secure automatic promotion despite successive defeats to Leeds United and Middlesbrough.

Comparisons will obviously be made between Onyedika and Leicester’s own Wilfred Ndidi.

Ndidi, another physically-imposing Nigerian midfielder, moved to the Midlands from Belgian football and Onyedika could now follow in his footsteps. Onyedika likes a tackle. He averages 2.1 per game in the Jupiler League (WhoScored).

But the five-cap international, another exciting African talent to make his name in Denmark (Onyedika joined Brugge from Midtjylland) is also extremely comfortable with the ball at his feet. With his excellent ball control and press-resistant qualities, Onyedika loves to wriggle through gaps and take opponents out of the game with well-timed bursts.

“I like to win duels and I am also good with the ball at my feet,” Onyedika told Voetbal Nieuws.

“Personally, I look up to Paul Pogba. A lot of people say we look alike, but I just want to be the best version of myself.”

If he is to end up at Nottingham Forest, Onyedika could help replace Orel Mangala following his January switch to Lyon. Everton, meanwhile, may need to replace a star midfielder of their own. Amadou Onana is likely to attract plenty of offers.

Onyedika will cost in excess of £13 million. Reports claim Galatasaray had a bid rejected in January.

Source Punch Ng

Posted February 29, 2024