Victor Boniface is football's latest shiny item that every major player is battling to acquire in the transfer market.
Clubs from the biggest leagues in Europe all hold an interest in the Akure-born striker after seeing him transfer his skills from the lower-tier Belgium League to the Bundesliga.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen are now worried about losing him less than a year after acquiring the Nigeria striker.
However, the more surprising news is that Premier League side and current defending champions of the UEFA Europa Conference League, West Ham United could be the one to pry Victor Boniface from their hands.
🚨 West Ham are interested in signing Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface, while the Hammers are also considering manager David Moyes' position.
(Source: @TEAMtalk ) pic.twitter.com/AyLmBFcwgn
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) November 11, 2023
West Ham joins Barcelona, Real Madrid and others in potential race for Victor Boniface
Super Eagles stars Boniface and Victor Osimhen were reported to be on Barcelona's radar a while ago by Goalball Live.
Boniface was also reported to be on the radar of Real Madrid a while back. In short, the transfer news and rumours mill have been active thanks to the 22-year-old's exploits.
In a period when top strikers are in high demand, the former Royal Union Saint-Gilloise star has risen to the top of the most sought-after number 9s.
Newcastle United are the most prominent English club in the race for the Leverkusen forward while others like Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are keeping an eye on the situation.
Now, a British football media publication claims that West Ham are looking towards the striker as their first point of a rebuild.
August 🏆
September 🏆
October 🏆Victor Boniface wins Bundesliga Rookie of the Month award for the third consecutive time! pic.twitter.com/4D4LV6I8MT
— Soar Super Eagles (@SSE_NGA) November 10, 2023
The Hammers are reportedly planning to move on from David Moyes, who helped them clinch the Conference League title last season. A number of players will also follow Moyes out of the club if their succession plans work out.
Victor Boniface could be their first player acquisition in the new dispensation. They see the striker as the goalscorer who can take them to the next level as they look to continue challenging in European competitions.
Meanwhile, there is apprehension in the Nigeria football news scene that Victor Boniface could face the kind of pressure due to transfer rumours that Osimhen dealt with after his incredible season with Napoli, which ended in a top scorer award and a league title.
It remains to be seen what the striker will do about his future.
Xabi Alonso's Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella concern
While the biggest clubs are plotting their bids for Victor Boniface to give the Leverkusen administration some worry, the team's manager, Xabi Alonso, has his own concerns.
Boniface is now a shoo-in for the Super Eagles squad after getting his first cap in the September 2023 international break against Sao Tome and Principe.
He is included in the November 2023 squad that will face Lesotho and Zimbabwe in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
His Leverkusen teammate, Nathan Tella, also got his debut call-up to the Nigeria national football team.
The Goal. 😮💨
The Celebration. 😮💨
Victor Boniface. 😮💨🇳🇬#QARB04 | #Bayer04 #UEL #aCROSSeurope @boniface_jrn pic.twitter.com/9zRVlFjZ8N— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) November 9, 2023
Both players have been very useful to Alonso this season, especially Boniface, who is the team's leading goalscorer.
The Spaniard has now expressed worry over the potential absence of both Boniface and Tella for their run of games in January thanks to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
“It is a concern for January and February, perhaps not having five players,” said Alonso in Baku, Azerbaijan during their UEFA Europa League match. “It is a reality. We have to accept that.”
Moroccan forward Amine Adli, Burkina Faso centre-back Edmond Tapsoba and Ivorian defender Odilon Kossounou are the other players Bayer Leverkusen could miss in January as a result of the AFCON alongside Boniface and Tella.
This article was most recently revised and updated 10 months ago
