Tag: Omeruo

Chelsea loanee Kenneth Omeruo is widely tipped to fill in at the Eagles problematic right back position against Algeria today.

Coach Gernot Rohr admitted the problem of the team at right back during Thursday’s media briefing and that caused him to call up Holland-based Tyronne Ebuehi, who subsequently turned down the invitation.

Turkey-based Musa Mohammed, who manned the position with distinction against Tanzania as well as friendlies against Mali and Luxembourg, has been kept out by Rohr because he does not get game time at his club.

Shehu Abdullahi has also played in that position and even though he has recovered from an ankle knock, while Wilfred Ndidi was played there in Zambia.

But it is now looking clearer that Omeruo will play there today.

Central defender Omeruo, an international since 2013, is playing regularly at Turkish club Alanyaspor on a season-long loan from Chelsea and played in that position during his loan spell at Dutch club ADO Den Haag.

A team official informed: “Omeruo will most likely play from right back, which remains a problem for us.

“He played at central defence against Zambia and it was his mistake that led to the home team’s goal, but he still remains a good player.”

Allnigeriasoccer.com understands that Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo cost £800,000 excluding wages and bonuses when he was acquired by Chelsea in January 2012.

It has been claimed by sources aware of the deal that brought the former Nigeria U-17 international to Stamford Bridge that the stopper was never in the books of Standard Liege and was only training with the Belgian club.

Indeed, Omeruo’s transfer fee was paid to a Nigerian club, who inserted a sell-on clause that will see them pocket 10 per cent of the transfer fee in future if he is sold by Chelsea before the expiration of his contract.

The 22-year-old has enjoyed loan spells at ADO Den Haag, Middlesbrough, Kasimpasa and Alanyaspor, having failed to break into the first team of Chelsea.

He is currently valued in the region of two million pounds by transfer market experts.

Chelsea wantaway defender, Kenneth Omeruo who has been heavily linked to Turkish side Besiktas is reportedly high on the wishlist of Spanish La-Liga side Villarreal.

Omeruo’s loan switch to Besiktas has suffered a lot of hiccups since the beginning of talks two months ago, and according to Mundo Deportivo Villareal are closing in on a loan deal for the 22 year old.

Villarreal are looking for defensive cover following the sale of Eric Baily to Manchester United and Omeruo who spent last season on loan to Kasimpasa is high on their priority list.

The possible departure of Musacchio makes their interest in the Nigerian a no brainer, although they still have to fend off interest from Besiktas and demands from Chelsea.

Chelsea only want the 22 year old to leave on loan after signing a new deal but he is yet to commit himself to a new deal, and the Blues are also not willing to give any of his loan side the option of buying him permanently next summer.

Nigeria defender, Kenneth Omeruo will rejoin English Premier League side Chelsea on Monday after holidaying in Nigeria. He has not yet agreed personal terms with Turkish champions Besiktas.

“Kenneth will rejoin Chelsea for training on Monday,” a source told AfricanFootball.com.

“His loan move to Besiktas is going well but nothing has been agreed because he has not discussed personal terms with the Turkish club.”

As we first reported, Besiktas cannot buy the Nigeria international defender outrightly because they will run foul of the UEFA financial fair play and so the loan deal.

However, they could have the option to buy him from Chelsea at the end of the season-long loan at the Istanbul giants.

Omeruo has so far been loaned out by Chelsea to Dutch club ADO Den Haag, Middlesbrough and Kasimpasa of Turkey.

Defender Kenneth Omeruo, who is on loan in Turkey from English Premier League club Chelsea, has said he is disappointed he will miss two crucial AFCON qualifiers against Egypt later this month due to injury.

Omeruo is nursing a groin injury which will sideline him till the end of the month, officials have announced.

Omeruo’s Turkish club, Kasimpasa, have informed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) that the central defender is down with a groin injury that will sideline him for the next two weeks.

Super Eagles’ team administrator, Enebi Achor said Omeruo has expressed disappointment he will miss the qualifiers on account of injury.

“The player is disappointed with his injury setback because he has been looking forward to these games with a lot of optimism. The coaches were also unhappy but they have wished him a quick recovery,” he said.

“Omeruo’s injury and subsequent withdrawal from the Egypt games has been communicated to the coaches and the medics.”

The Super Eagles confront Egypt in two crucial games over four days, on March 25 and 29, needing at least four points out of a maximum six to go top of the group and enhance Nigeria’s chances of participating at the Africa Cup of Nations final competition in Gabon next year.

However, Manchester City starlet Kelechi Iheanacho is expected to fly into Nigeria for an AFCON double-header against Egypt on Monday.

The 19-year-old Iheanacho is expected to feature for City in Sunday’s Manchester derby against United and the following day catch his flight to Nigeria, one of his representatives disclosed.

“Kelechi has received his flight ticket for the match and he is expected to fly out on Monday from England,” said the representative.

The former U17 and U20 star is one of 21 foreign-based stars called up for the matches against Egypt on March 25 in Kaduna and March 29 in Alexandria.

He made his full international debut against Swaziland in Lobamba in November, when he came on as a 66th minute substitute for Rabiu Ibrahim.