According to an exclusive from AllNigeriaSoccer.com, Chief NUFC scout Steve Nickson was present during Nigeria’s 2-0 defeat to Serbia on Tuesday night to check up on Aleksandar Mitrovic and scout Super Eagles captain Eddy Onazi.
Mitrovic scored Serbia’s two goals and could and should have had his first career hat-trick, meaning NUFC scouts are likely to have been left impressed, however it seems the Serbian wasn’t the only player they had their eye on that night.
The Nigerian outlet claim that both Newcastle and West Ham representatives were watching Eddy Onazi – the 25-year-old defensive midfielder who was captaining his country on Tuesday:
“Allnigeriasoccer.com can exclusively report that two Premier League clubs were interested in the international friendly between Nigeria and Serbia at the Hive Stadium. Representatives from Newcastle United and West Ham were physically sighted in the stands running the rule over the top stars on both teams.
“Steve Nickson, the Newcastle United head of recruitment, was in Canons Park. This website can reveal that Super Eagles captain on the night Eddy Onazi has been linked with a move to St James’ Park in the past.”
The 5ft 7′ midfielder (far right of above picture) currently plays for Turkish Super Lig side Trabzonspor, having joined them for £3m in the summer of 2016 after a five-year stint in Italy with Lazio.
As the story states, this isn’t the first time Onazi has bene linked with a move to Tyneside, with him being linked with a £6m move to Newcastle back when Steve McClaren was in charge in January 2016.
Make of this what you will, but with defensive midfielders Saivet and Colback likely to be sold this summer, it wouldn’t surprise me if Rafa was on the lookout for fresh blood.
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