Tag: Omeruo

A close source to Super Eagles’ defender, Kenneth Josiah Omeruo has refuted claims that the Chelsea of England’s ace was very close to agreeing a new deal offered him by the Stamford Bridge landlords.

The source told SportingLife that Omeruo was indeed offered a new and improved deal by the Barclays Premier League giants but that the player’s representatives have politely told Chelsea to add more cash if they are desirous of extending his contract.

The former junior international signed for Chelsea in 2011 and his current deal expires next season but the premier league side will like to wrap up contract talks with the Nigerian before the start of the World Cup where Omeruo, 21, stock may rise even more with a good display in Brazil.

“Kenneth is not close to agreeing a new deal with Chelsea what they have done is to table a fresh three year contract proposal before his representatives which they are still studying. They told Chelsea to come up with a new improved offer because they feel Kenneth should be offered more than what Chelsea is putting on the table for him.

“Chelsea are also eager to tidy it up before the start of the World Cup because they are afraid they might lose him to another top club. They are yet to come with any improved bid but Kenneth is playing well and enjoying his stint with Middlesbrough. He is not bothered at all,” the source close to the Nigerian told SportingLife.

Middlesbrough on loan star and Super Eagles’ defender, Kenneth Josiah Omeruo has expressed his happiness at Chelsea’s qualification for the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League.

Omeruo was not chanced to watch the tie as he was in action for his Championship side in a league encounter with Birmingham which they won 3-1 but was red carded for his second bookable offence of the match.

The former Standard Liege and Sunshine Stars’ defender told SportingLife that knowing the result of the match was the first on his mind immediately they triumphed over Birmingham to steady their place in the lower league.

Omeruo said:” I am so elated that Chelsea surmounted PSG to get to the semi-final. It was even more special with the way they defeated the French champions. They were written off after the first leg because they lost 3-1 but Jose Mourinho and the players did a good job to squeeze through.

“I didn’t have the opportunity of watching it because of our league game at home to Birmingham City. We won 3-1 and I was very thrilled to later hear that Chelsea also qualified.”

The former junior international also disclosed that the offence picked for his second yellow card was never a bad tackle but that he was happy that his on loan team triumphed and that he would be using the suspension induced break to further assess himself.

Middlesbrough are 13th on the log with 55 points from 41 games and they are eight points adrift of last play off spot currently occupied by Reading FC who are on 63 points from the same number of matches.

Omeruo who has been playing regularly recently joined the Riverside Side at the beginning of the year on loan from Chelsea till the end of the season and he has been getting rave review since his switch to the Championship side.

He is aiming a berth to the 2014 World Cup with the Super Eagles just over a year after making his bow for the team at the 2013 AFCON tournament which Nigeria won.

A close source to Super Eagles’ defender, Kenneth Omeruo has told SportingLife that Chelsea of England are keen on tying him to a new contract before the Brazil 2014 World Cup finals to ward off competition from other clubs.

The former junior international is currently on a loan deal to Middlesbrough after he found first team opportunity hard to get at the Stamford Bridge landlords at the start of the season.

He was recalled from Holland by Chelsea after two successful loan seasons with ADO Den Haag in the Dutch Eredevisie to come and lay claim to the first eleven shirt of the former Champions League winners.

But a shoulder injury he copped during the Eagles’ 2013 FIFA Confederation Cup in Brazil against Spain slowed down his first team chance as he failed to participate in any of Chelsea’s pre season matches under new head coach, Jose Mourinho.

Omeruo totally recovered from injury mid way into the season after Mourinho already earmarked those he would like to work with for the season.

The sure bet was a loan move that would guarantee first team opportunity and a chance to play at his first ever World Cup finals barely five years after he burst into public glare at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria where he was in the team that narrowly lost to Switzerland in the final at Abuja.

He made Mourinho to sanction a loan move to Middlesbrough where the revered Special One has a link with his former Assistant Coach, Aitor Karanka and to bolster his World Cup aspiration.

After emerging as one of the leading lights in Middlesbrough march for a return to the premier league, Mourinho, SportingLife was told has informed Chelsea top officials that the club should ensure they commit Omeruo to another long term contract before the current expires next year.

“Chelsea are watching the progress of Kenneth and they have made it a priority before the World Cup to offer him a fresh contract. They do not want to lose him to another club that may want to hijack him after a good display in Brazil. He is also happy with Chelsea and his development under Jose Mourinho,” the source told SportingLife.

Nigeria defender Kenneth Omeruo has said he hopes to help Middlesbrough return to the Premier League after he completed a loan move from Chelsea.

The AFCON 2013 winner trained with the ‘Boro squad for the first time Tuesday morning and may debut against Blackpool on Saturday.

The 20-year-old will be looking to play regularly in the Middlesbrough backline as he aims to be with Nigeria at the World Cup in Brazil in June.

He is capable of playing both on the right or in the middle.

“This loan move is important because I have a good chance of playing regular football,” he said.

“I would also be in a good situation to help the club fight for promotion – nothing is impossible in football.”

Omeruo was shocked with Chelsea’s interest in him despite not having played at the top level in Europe.

“I first found out during the preparations for the (U20) World Cup and I got a confirmation call after the tournament. At first I didn’t believe it because I wasn’t expecting that at the time,” he admitted.

“I had only played for Standard reserves at that time but I left when my pre-contract was finished. They were surprised. It was great.

“It was really big news back home. People were happy that another Nigerian was at Chelsea again. My family were really happy and supportive. It feels great to get to the stage you’ve been dreaming of.”

And he is keen to build on last season’s loan at ADO Den Haag in Holland.

He said: “Playing in Holland wasn’t difficult at all because they play the kind of football I like. They play good football, everyone could play, they can keep the ball. It was really good.”

Chelsea defender Kenneth Omeruo is delighted with his loan switch to Middlesbrough.

Last season, he played 36 games on loan at Dutch top-flight side ADO Den Haag.

“With the World Cup in June, it is important to have the chance of playing regularly,” Omeruo told BBC Sport.

“Hopefully I can help Middlesbrough fight for promotion – nothing is impossible in football.

“Training with the first-team at Chelsea is just not good enough for my progress and development.

“More significantly, I was highly recommended [to Karanka] by Jose Mourinho and that feels good.

“They [Karanka and Mourinho] speak to each other on a daily basis so I believe I’ll be in good hands.

“Apart from playing regularly and helping the team, this provides me with an opportunity to be sharp for the World Cup.”