Josh Maja Attracts Multiple Transfer Interests In England, Italy, Spain, USA

Girondins-Bordeaux of France striker, Josh Maja has gained transfer interest from a multiple of clubs across Europe and USA, but the former Super Eagles’ invitee apparently prefers staging a return to England.

Megasportsarena.com reports that, having gained his football breakthrough at Sunderland and then had a spell on loan last season at Fulham, Maja feels inclined towards banking of getting better days back in England.

That hope could be concretised by an offer he has now received from lower division side, Stoke City, who are reportedly eager to bolster their attacking options before the close of the January transfer window by signing the former Sunderland and Fulham striker.

A report by British newspaper, Daily Mail revealed that The Potters, who have a long tradition of Nigerian players in their squad, dating back to Seyi George Olofinjana, Shola Ameobi, Victor Moses, John Mikel Obi and Peter Oghenekaro Etebo, are closing in on a loan deal for Maja.

The report adds that The Potters’ coach, Michael O’Neill is of a view that Maja can help fire his team back to the English Premier League, as they step up their promotion quest, but interest in the all-action attacker from outside England means Stoke are facing competition for the hitman.

That is sequel to a separate report by French sports daily, L’Equipe, which disclosed that two other clubs in England Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers, as well as Venezia of Italy, Alaves of Spain and a team in USA’s Major League Soccer (MLS) are interested in the 23-year-old star.

All this comes after Maja’s return to fitness, after missing the first four months of the season due to a complaint in his back and he was involved as a substitute in Bordeaux’s last two French Ligue 1 fixtures.

It was gathered further that Maja, who has a contract running with Bordeaux until the end of the 2022-23 season, wants a return to England, where he started his career at Sunderland and netted three goals in 15 games while on loan at Fulham in the second half of last season.

Maja could be on his way back to Queensland to continue a double-stunning exit by Nigerian players from Bordeaux in the ongoing winter transfer market, as Samuel Kalu left early last week to join Watford, though The Hornets are struggling this season in the EPL.