French Ligue 1 side Nantes have taken the first step towards signing Nigeria international defender Chidozie Awaziem Permanently from Portuguese side FC Porto.
Awaziem is on a season long loan to the French side and his fine form has played a part in Nantes finishing 5th on the log after the first stanza of the league in France.
20 year old Awaziem have also broken into the senior national team of Nigeria, where he has five caps to his name, and presently has the backing of coach Gernot Rohr as the third choice central defender of the Super Eagles.
Nantes are keen to tie him down on a permanent contract, before he as expected play for Nigeria at the World Cup in Russia next year, but Porto are yet to agree to their first bid.
Porto are demanding €16m for his permanent transfer, €3m short of Nantes valuation of the defender, who played in 15 of the 18 games they played in the first stanza of the league in France.
A representative of his Nigerian intermediary told Owngoalnigeria.com, that they are hopeful of having a breakthrough in talks with the Portuguese side.
” Talks are still going on, but at a slow pace I must confess. Nantes want Awaziem and he also want to remain with them but Porto have the final say on any potential move “, the G-Smart representative told Owngoalnigeria.com.
” So far a bid of €13m have been lodged by Nantes but Porto want €16m. We are hopeful that both clubs will reach a compromise or better still an agreement before the World Cup in Russia next year”.
Daniel Martins
