Arsenal has confirmed that Nigeria U-20 skipper, Kelechi Nwakali, will be shipped out on loan to gain European football experience.
“Kelechi, who joined us as a young professional, will look to gain experience with a loan move in the coming months,” africanFootball.com quoted the English Premier League (EPL) club as saying on its official website Friday.
Nwakali was best player at last year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.
Arsenal have earmarked Bournemouth head coach Eddie Howe as a successor to Arsene Wenger, according to the Daily Star.
The Emirates Stadium hierarchy have been impressed by the young manager’s tactical approach and are happy it would transition well to the Premier League giants.
Wenger shares their enthusiasm, though the long-serving manager’s recommendations will only be taken as additional options and not result in an automatic appointment.
The report claims Arsenal would have been happy to see Wenger take up the England post this summer as they begin their search to replace the Frenchman, who is entering the final 12 months of his contract.
Chuba Akpom and Alex Iwobi were part of the Arsenal squad that flew to California, United States on Monday.
But there was no place in the squad for the exciting teenagers – Tolaji Bola and Aaron Eyoma, meaning they will continue preparing for the forthcoming season with the Gunners academy teams.
Hale End Academy products Akpom and Iwobi were both named in the starting XI last Friday as Arsenal began their pre-season schedule by playing out a 1-1 draw with Lens in France.
The attacking midfielder was included in the Nigerian provisional squad for the Olympic Games but was not released by the London club.
Arsenal tackle MLS All-Stars on Friday before taking on Chivas de Guadalajara.
English Premier League (EPL) side, Arsenal will ship out Nigeria U-20 skipper, Kelechi Nwakali, on loan, africanFootball.com reports.
The midfielder turned 18 last month and will sign a five-year professional contract with the EPL giants later this month.
“Nwakali is not in Arsene Wenger’s immediate plans and it will take some time before his application for a work permit is processed. Therefore, it is most likely he will be sent out on loan possibly to a club in Belgium,” a source close to the player told africanFootball.com.
Nwakali was the Most Valuable Player (MVP) when Nigeria won a record fifth FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile in November last year.
The President of Diamond Football Academy, Umuahia, Martin Apugo, has confirmed that Nigeria U-20 international Kelechi Nwakali will travel to London, United Kingdom sometime this month to complete his move to Arsenal.
Kelechi Nwakali’s sporting rights are both owned by ASJ Academy and Diamond Academy, and the Owerri based nursery team and the player’s intermediary, Allwell Nwakali, had earlier stated that the central midfielder will formalise his switch to the Emirates this month.
“Kelechi Nwakali was with Arsenal but came back from London to join the national team. He will travel this month to Arsenal, he is still in the Flying Eagles camp, ” said Martin Apugo to allnigeriasoccer.com.
“He has agreed a five – year contract, he is a player of Arsenal.”
According to the Evening Standard, rave of the moment Alex Iwobi is set to receive a 1000% pay increase by Arsenal despite signing an extension just five months ago.
The 19-year-old Iwobi signed his first professional deal in May 2014 with a £850-a-week salary but the new pay package will see the nephew to Nigerian football legend Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha earn £10,000-a-week.
Iwobi is currently enjoying a super breakthrough season with the North Londoners as manager Arsene Wenger has shown tremendous faith in his ability. He was given the nod to feature in a crucial match against Barcelona during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg and he held his own despite the Gunners eventually crashing out.
However, it was a different story against Everton as the Nigerian youngster was handed his first premier league start and he capped his all-round immaculate display with a killer second goal that helped Arsenal win the game 2-0 and kept them in hunt to win the title for the first time in 12 years.
Already, the English FA are regretting not having him play for the Three Lions after representing them at junior levels as he preferred Nigeria and showed his commitment by arriving first to camp for the double header clash against Egypt in the 2017 African Nations Cup Qualifiers.
The new Arsenal deal will add to Iwobi’s growing reputation as one of the emerging young talents of world football.
Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, is eyeing a dream move to English Premier League side, Arsenal amidst interest for his services from Leicester City.
The CSKA Moscow star admitted that he has been supporting Arsenal for about 17 years and idolizes one of the club’s legends, Nwankwo Kanu.
“What club? I do not care, but Musa has to play. You know I cannot sit on the bench. Therefore, I will have to go to the Premier League club that will believe in me,” allnigeriasoccer.com quoted Musa as saying to championat.com.
“I would be happy if I was wanted by Arsenal. I have supported the team since the age of six. Nwankwo Kanu has been my idol since childhood. It will be fantastic to play in Arsenal.”
The former Kano Pillars winger also tipped CSKA Moscow new recruit, Aaron Samuel, to surpass ex-Spartak Moscow striker, Emmanuel Emenike’s achievements in the Russian Premier League.
Arsene Wenger has placed Watford striker, Odion Ighalo at the top of Arsenal’s summer shopping list, according to the Daily Mirror.
The report claims that Wenger wants to bolster his attacking options with a new striker, and Watford could be tempted to sell if a £20 million bid is submitted.
Chelsea and Atletico Madrid are also keeping tabs on the Nigerian forward, who has scored 14 goals in the Premier League this season.
Alex Iwobi was not involved in Arsenal´s 2-1 victory in the Premier League tie against Leicester City at the Emirates yesterday.
Manager Arsene Wenger announced his starting lineup and the seven players that made the substitutes bench, without including the Nigeria international.
Iwobi has been officially promoted to the Gunners first-team squad and practiced with the likes of Ozil, Sanchez and Walcott on Saturday only to be left out of the encounter.
The 19-year-old has made four appearances in the Premier League so far this season, coming off the bench in all the games.
Super Eagles winger, Alex Iwobi, has been promoted to Arsenal’s first team and will no longer feature for the club U-21 side.
Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, announced ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Leicester City that he will not loan out the forward before the end of this season.
The youngster will keep his number 45 jersey for the rest of this campaign, but will be allocated a lower squad number before the start of next season, allnigerigeriasoccer.com reports.
Iwobi has featured in every single competition for the Gunners this season- the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup, racking up eight appearances in the process.