Manchester City youngster, Timi Sobowale (aka Timo) has received a warm welcome and quite a promising pledge of support at lower division side, Blackburn Rovers, where he is billed to spend the rest of the current season on loan, while his name sake, Roland Sobowale is attracting four English Premier League clubs.
Megasportsarena.com reports that, with Man City opting for another opportunity where ‘Timo’ can build his talent under less stringent conditions, the fast-rising defender should find the ambience very conducive at Blackburn, where the club’s top brass have thrown their arms open to receive him.
Such is the revelation from the under-23 team’s handler at Ewood Park, Billy Barr, who disclosed that he is ready to groom Sobowale on all fronts and promised that the rising talent will be adequately monitored during his time in the team.
The Republic of Ireland youth international, who is valued at € 34,000, with a height of 186cm and weight 70kg, got his link to Etihad Stadium through a top scout and former player, Stephen Hunt, was born in Dundalk and grew up in Dublin before moving to Waterford.
The youngster, who has a brother named Oluwatunmise, a striker for Airtricity League Division one side, Finn Harps, also earlier featured for Tottenham Hotspur’s under-16 team during a youth competition in Holland in 2016, which the London club won.
He, however, opted instead join City, after he was introduced to The Citizens by Hunt, a former Irish international, who said Sobowale was developing nicely at the club, while also pointing out that the youthful defender, who favours the centre back position, is comfortable on the ball and enjoys playing out from the back, which is a key trait for every modern defensive player.
In an interview with City’s website Sobowale, who is also an Irish U15 and U16 international, said he models his game after the Etihad club’s former captain, Vincent Kompany and disclosed that his biggest secret to success is trying to remain focused and grounded in his early years.
While confirming that the 17-year-old Sobowale will spend a couple of weeks with the English Championship club before a decision is made on his future, Barr said: “He will be in for a couple of weeks and we’ll see how he goes.”
Dramatically, another player with the same surname, Ronald Sobowale, who used to play in Chelsea’s youth ranks, is said to be attracting transfer interest from Leicester City, Watford, West Bromwich Albion and Fulham.
The 22-year-old striker, who is currently on trial with English Championship side, Middlesbrough, where he aims to earn a professional deal, attracted attention after several top displays with Isthmian South East Division outfit, Whyteleafe earlier this season.
After scoring 10 goals in 11 matches for the Surrey side, British tabloid, Daily Mail reports that the London-born forward, who is a cousin of Bayern Munichof Germany’s Nigerian-born left-back, David Olatokunbo Alaba, is torn between signing for Boro or waiting for one of Leicester, Watford, West Brom and Fulham.
Leicester and Watford, though, are said to be head-to-head closer to Sobowale, who was an early contemporary of Tammy Abraham and Dominic Solanke, while at the Chelsea academy, from where he was released at the age of 15, and has also caught the attention of Preston North End.
