In the latest transfer news surrounding the Nigeria national football team players arriving at the Abuja camp ahead of their AFCON 2023 qualifiers fixtures, Super Eagles wingback Bright Osayi-Samuel is gathering more interest from across Europe.
Goalball Live previously reported that the defender is on the list of two English clubs who are prepared to lock horns in the summer for his services. The latest news now indicates that two more clubs, one from Scotland and one from France owned by City Football Group, will also throw their hat in the ring for the 25-year-old.
Troyes, Rangers Ready to go Head-to-Head Over Osayi-Samuel
According to Turkish journalist Yağiz Sabuncoğlu, Fenerbahçe winger/wingback Bright Osayi-Samuel is on the radar of ES Troyes AC, who were relegated from the French Ligue 1 in the 2022/23 season.
ÖZEL | Troyes, Osayi Samuel için Fenerbahçe’ye resmi teklif yaptı.
• Rangers da Osayi Samuel için resmi temaslara başladı.
— Yağız Sabuncuoğlu (@yagosabuncuoglu) June 9, 2023
The club, owned by the City Football Group, owners of 2022/23 UEFA Champions League title winner Manchester City and MLS franchise club New York City FC, are looking for a low-cost option to strengthen their squad as they work to return to the French league system top flight next season.
Sabuncuoğlu also reports that Troyes have gone a step further than the other clubs who are interested in Osayi-Samuel and made an offer to Fenerbahçe.
Sabuncuoğlu also reports that Scottish Premiership side Glasgow Rangers are in contact with the Turkish Super Lig side over the possibility of signing the Blackpool Academy product. Rangers, however, have not made an offer for the player, giving Troyes the upper hand in negotiations.
This could also be a problem for Leeds United and Bournemouth AFC, the two English clubs who have been reported in the last few days as being interested in taking Osayi-Samuel away from Turkey.
Bournemouth only wants the player on loan while the others are looking for a transfer. Their Premier League status, however, could swing the player’s sentiments in their favour as he has made no effort to hide his desire to compete in the top league of the country where he was raised.
Super Eagles Wingback Osayi-Samuel Drops in Pecking Order at Fenerbahçe
Fenerbahçe paid a rumoured €500,000 to Queens Park Rangers in 2021 for Osayi-Samuel and the player has improved enough for the team to demand between €10 and €15 million from interested suitors.
However, he started only 10 games for the Turkish Super Lige club this season, showing that the club’s handlers do not consider him all too important in their affairs. An exit is the best option for both parties, especially for Fenerbahçe who are set to make up to €10 million in profit from Osayi-Samuel.
He will leave having made 99 appearances for the team across all competitions, scoring three goals and notching seven assists. In the meantime, his focus will be on the Super Eagles, whose camp he will be joining ahead of their AFCON 2023 qualifiers tie against Sierra Leone next weekend.
This article was most recently revised and updated 1 year ago
