Fulham are refusing to back away from their pursuit of Nigerian defender Chibuike Nwaiwu, but convincing Trabzonspor to sell him is proving far from easy, Footynaija reports.
The Premier League club have already increased their offer for the 22-year-old centre-back after their first proposal was turned down. Reports from Turkey suggest Fulham have gone beyond the €20 million mark in an attempt to reach an agreement, but Trabzonspor remain unmoved.
The Turkish side believe Nwaiwu is worth much more and are reportedly demanding between €30 million and €40 million before they will even consider letting him leave. Club officials see the Super Eagles defender as a key part of their plans for next season and are under no pressure to cash in.
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Nwaiwu only arrived at Trabzonspor in January, yet he quickly became one of the team’s most important players. During the second half of last season, he made 16 league appearances and scored three goals, an impressive return for a central defender.
Fulham view him as a long-term solution in defence and are expected to return with another offer before the transfer window closes. However, Trabzonspor appear determined to drive the price higher as interest in the Nigerian international continues to grow.
Nwaiwu, however, has remained calm amid the speculation. Although he has admitted that playing in the Premier League would be a dream, he has stressed that he is fully committed to Trabzonspor and respects his current contract. That stance means any move will depend entirely on the two clubs reaching an agreement rather than the player pushing for an exit.
