Ducor Sports lockdowns on the most sought-after Africans in the transfer market and the current situation in their respective clubs.
Naby Keita
One of the most sought after African players, the Guinean dubbed ‘the African Deco’ in the Bundesliga is believed to be in the fore front of Liverpool’s transfer plans but RB Leipzig is unwilling to cash in on the midfielder, after slapping a whopping £70m on the player as a way of deterring the Anfield outfit.
But Jurgen Klopp is persistent and hopes to break the Bundesliga side’s resolve before closure of the transfer window.
Aware of Liverpool’s desperation to land Keita, reports monitored in the German press claim that Leipzig’s reluctance to sell is a tactical move to drag the deal in efforts to get the Merseyside outfit to top up on the initial offer.
A similar tone is being bundled up in the local Guinean press who even insist that the Syli Nationale star man has his heart set on moving to Liverpool.
The contract standoff between Liverpool and RB Leipzig is expected to continue but many believe a common ground will be reached at least before transfer deadline day.
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Ousman Manneh
The Weserstadion may stop being home to Ousman Manneh come next season, with reports of his likely departure.
The 20-year-old was a revelation in the previous campaign but gaffer Alexander Nouri wants him to rake up more playing time elsewhere with chances of regular appearances for SV Werder Bremen, increasingly growing thin.
A revised contract is being prepared for the young striker to sign before leaving on a season-long loan, perhaps signaling Nouri’s faith in the Gambian.
The multimillion dollar question, however, is where he will seek more playing time with no club so far coming out to express any interest. This is partly to blame for the huge price tag labeled on the refugee-turned footballer. A move to the German second tier is however likely.
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Kelechi Iheanacho
Stories of where Iheanacho gets to play next season never seem to cease with new speculations arising every day. Pep Guardiola has no room for the Nigerian in his rebuilding plans for next season and as a result, the 20-year-old has inevitably found himself the subject of transfer gossips.
West Bromwich Albion, West Ham, have all been linked with the striker but Leicester City now appears to be favorites to snap up the erstwhile Columbus Crew goal-getter with recent reports claiming a deal has been brokered in principle pending discussions on personal terms before a medical is conducted.
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Abdul Majeed Waris
It very much looks like Ghana’s Abdul Majeed Waris is bound to play in Turkey. The 25-year-old tops Super Lig side Bursaspor’s priorities with the possibility of a deal being signed and given a 90 percent rating.
The highest earning Lorient player notched in nine goals last season but couldn’t help the club escape the clutches of relegation. Lorient is Ligue 2-bound, opening up doors for prying clubs to lure its top players away.
The side already sold Moukandjio with Waris expected to follow suit in days to come despite having three years left on his contract.
Lorient will require funds for squad rebuilding, making the attacker’s sale even more paramount and it’s anticipated Bursaspor won’t have qualms with the French side’s £4m valuation of the player.
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Baba Rahman
Schalke’s interest in Black Stars’ left-back Baba Rahman, has not faded one bit with the German Bundesliga side ready to take the Chelsea player back after his spell with the English Champions in the last campaign, abruptly ended with a keen ligament injury he sustained during the last Nations Cup.
The ex-Augsburg starlet is at Chelsea’s Cobham Training Centre stepping up his rehabilitation.
Chelsea has had meetings with the defender regarding offers from clubs abroad and the Ghanaian is understood to be receptive to the idea of returning to Schalke, according to reports.
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Mimoun Mahi
17 goals in 32 games is a laudable feat and it is exactly what Moroccan forward Mahi plundered last campaign.
The 23-year-old is giving goose-bumps to Dutch top tier club Groningen who was initially adamant not to let him go. But the club has now been prompted to act fast, signing a new forward, Lars Veldwijk, should the Moroccan head out the door.
Mahi, the highest scoring African in the Eredivisie, hasn’t helped cool incessant interest in him either, saying he will exit if a big club comes calling but hasn’t rule out staying put if no offers come his way.
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Kalidou Koulibaly
Arsenal is the latest in hot pursuit of Senegal’s defender Kalidou Koulibally’s signature. Chelsea and Liverpool have attempted, without success, to sign the 26-year-old with their overtures further dampened by the defender’s decision to pen an improved deal expected to keep him at Napoli until 2021.
Development of this nature usually serves to fend off overtures from suitors but this has done little to discourage the Gunners who this week, reportedly, made inquiries into the defender’s availability.
But TMW holds that a deal is unlikely to be signed with Napoli the least keen on parting ways with the Teranga Lions centre-back.
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Omar Colley
Italian club Sampdoria has tabled an improved offer to sign Belgian club KRC Genk’s Omar Colley after seeing the side’s first bid turned down.
The Serie A side first lodged a €5m bid, €4m short of Genk’s commanding price for the Gambian national team captain.
Sampdoria sees Colley something of a possible replacement for Kriniar who departed the club for Inter Milan but must shrug off equal interest from Lille and Turkey Super Lig pair Besiktas and Fenerbahce, who are said to have held preliminary talks with Genk’s chairman.
The situation could tip the balance in Sampdoria’s favor after the club made a follow-up proposal on Thursday, reported to be in the excess of €7m.
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Pierre-Emerick Aubamayeng
Borussia Dortmund appears to have poured cold water on talks of Gabon’s Aubamayeng joining AC Milan. Dortmund’s chief Hans-Joachim Watzke says the Milan club showed disregard in their pursuit of last season’s top scorer by going public in their pursuit of the hit-man.
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