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Fulham are moving closer to signing Nigerian defender Chibuike Nwaiwu from Trabzonspor in what could become a record-breaking transfer for a Nigerian centre-back, Footynaija reports.
Reports from Turkey say the Premier League club have offered the 23-year-old a yearly salary of €2.5 million, which is about N4 billion. The two clubs are now in the final stage of talks after weeks of negotiations.
The biggest issue left is the transfer fee. Fulham are believed to be ready to pay more than €25 million, while Trabzonspor want €30 million, including performance-related bonuses. Even if the final amount stays at €25 million, Nwaiwu would still become the most expensive Nigerian defender ever.
That would see him move ahead of Calvin Bassey, who joined Fulham from Ajax for €23 million three years ago.
Personal terms are not expected to delay the transfer because Nwaiwu’s representatives have already reached an agreement with Fulham.
Trabzonspor are also preparing for the possibility of losing the former Enyimba defender. The Turkish club have been linked with Ghana’s Kojo Peprah Oppong and Ivory Coast’s Junior Diaz as possible replacements.
At the moment, though, Nwaiwu remains with Trabzonspor’s squad in Austria for pre-season training while both clubs continue discussions. If an agreement is reached soon, the Nigerian international could write his name into the country’s transfer history.
