CSKA Moscow Rejects Improved Leicester Bid for Musa
Nwakali, Chukwueze expecting work permits at Arsenal
With the winter transfer window about to be closed at 23:00 GMT tonight, Russian army team CSKA Moscow have insisted on not selling Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa to English Premiership side Leicester City.
CSKA turned down a fourth bid from Leicester City that is believed to be about $26.5m for the Nigerian forward last week, which was an improvement on the original offer of $21.6m.
The 23-year-old is also believed to be open to a move to the Premier League leaders.
However, CSKA, who are top of the Russian league, want the forward to stay until at least the summer before he can be allowed out of the team.
Musa had also attracted the attention of other top English Premier League teams and has a $32.5m (£22.8m) buyout clause in his contract, which runs until 2019.
Musa is a known fan of Arsenal and already owns several choice properties in London including a home on the same street with Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere as the Nigeria captain has always had his eyes on playing in the English Premier League.
The Nigeria star’s blistering pace and eye for goal have now installed him as the man to join Leicester as a cover for their leading scorer Jamie Vardy.
Ironically, Ahmed Musa, who has followed Arsenal because of their attractive passing game, came very close to teaming up with ‘The Gunners’ bitter city rivals Tottenham Hotspur a few seasons ago, but Russian army club CSKA eventually pulled the plug on it.
However, two members of the Golden Eaglets squad to the 2015 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Chile Kelechi Nwakali and Samuel Chukwueze are believed to have sealed deals with Arsenal.
Both players were pictured with Arsene Wenger, Ivan Gazidis and Nigerian legend, Nwankwo Kanu in North London at the weekend.
While the Gunners have not officially confirmed signing the two youngsters, Arsenal Manager, Arsene Wenger admitted they were close to a deal.
Wenger said: “They are progressing well. I expect them to be done this month.
“There are, of course, work permit issues, medical issues, but it is progressing well.
“We identified Nwakali after he won player of the tournament, he is a top player. We will see if we can manage to get it over the line.”
Even Nwakali posted on his Facebook that he had realised his dream of going to London.
“Happy I made it. Now the work begins,” he said.
Nwakali was named player of the FIFA U-17 tournament as Nigeria lifted the cadet World Cup trophy while Chukwueze was third highest scorer with three goals.
Chukwueze’s handlers had earlier rejected what they described as “peanuts” contract offered the young midfielder by Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg.
His representatives were far from impressed with what Red Bull offered after Arsenal offered to splash as much as 2.9 million pounds for him.
“Chukwueze has a better chance of developing at Red Bull, but there was no comparison between what the Austrian club tabled and what Arsenal are willing to cough out,” said a source familiar with this transaction to Africanfootball. com.
Unconfirmed sources said at the weekend that Arsenal is likely to splash around 3.1 million pounds on Nwakali.