Leganes of Spain centre back, Kenneth Omeruo is on course to become the costliest Nigerian defender of all time, as his espied move from his parent club, Chelsea of England is sure to eclipse the record currently held by former Super Eagles stopper, Pastor Taribo West, megasportsarena.com reports.
Although Chelsea are touting Omeruo for another loan deal elsewhere, which they have done for him sicne he first signed for The Blues in 2012, the dark-skinned vastly-improved star wants a full transfer, which would out price the £10.2m deal that took Taribo to Inter Milan of Italy from AJ Auxerre of France in 1997.
Incidentally, back then, Taribo was the most expensive defender in the world before his then globally acclaimed record was broken by Dutch ace, Jaap Stam, who joined Manchester United of England from PSV Eindhoven of Holland for £10.6m.
Another Nigerian defender whose value Omeruo is also sure to outshine this month is Joseph Enakarhire (Little Joe), whose transfer in 2005 from Sporting Lisbon of Portugal to Dynamo Moscow of Russia for £5.5m is the current joint-second costliest deal for a Nigerian stopper.
Same goes former Eagles’ captain, Joseph Ikpo Yobo, when he moved from Olympique Marseille of France in 2003; b ut Omeruo’s expected transfer this summer will surely fall short of the new world record that was this week enacted in Harry Maguire switch from Leicester City to Manchester United for an astronomical £80m.
After officially joining The Red Devils for that mammoth amount on Monday, Maguire becomes the most expensive center back in history, surpassing Matthijs de Ligt’s £77m move from Ajax to Juventus, which was also enacted earlier this season.
Omeruo appears closer to a deal with Leganes, as the Spanish midstream club stated early this week that they are determined to iron out a deal for him with Chelsea.
The report out of The Land of The Armada further indicates that Leganes are preparing another offer for Chelsea to consider in selling Omeruo, who has spent loan spells at six different clubs.
Omeruo has never made an appearance for The Blues, but he was in tremendous form last season during his debut campaign with Leganes in La Liga, such that the modest club are now eager to buy him outright.
However, they found the first bid of £4.6m rejected for the 26-year-old centre back, who has played for Standard Liege of Belgium, ADO Den Haag of Holland, Middlesbrough of England as well as Kasimpansa and Alanyaspor of Turkey, but is eager to leave Stamford Bridge.
London Evening Standard added that Los Pepineros are going to return with an increased offer for Omeruo, who made 28 league appearances for Leganes last season.