When it comes to the January transfer window, there are rumours. And there are rumours.
Some make no sense; some hold more water than others; some, old Ferret listens to. Others, he just thinks: 'Nah…'
But every once in a while, one catches his eye and he thinks: 'Mmm…' And that's how it was this week. With that one that popped up about our Glenn chasing some kid from Valencia. Some Spanish 'wonder kid'.
Only he had both Inter Milan and a Greek club for company. And as Ferret is always one to give credit where credit is due, take a bow CheepShot.co.uk.
You might have hit a little nail right on the head.
Because, lo and behold, what pops up on Goal.com this evening, but this little headline: 'Sunny linked with AEK Athens loan switch…'
So? Well, Sunny – or rather, to give the kid his proper name, Stephen Obayan Sunday – is a 19-year-old midfielder. Who plays for… Valencia.
Or will do in the future. Having signed a six-year deal as part of his ?900,000 summer switch from the Spanish junior side, Poli Ejido.
But as Dutch legend Ronald Koeman tries to halt Valencia's recent, miserable slide down La Liga – principally by splashing out ?2 million on Ajax midfielder Hedwiges Maduro – so his teenage prospect is deemed surplus to his current requirements. And he can go out on loan somewhere…
So keen are AEK on the lad – likened by some to the next Michael Essien – that on top of a six-month loan deal, they are also looking to insert an option-to-purchase clause. At which point, it appears, Valencia stop playing ball.
AEK know about Valencia's little prospect because they're managed by a Spaniard – Lorenzo Serra Ferrer.
Valencia's sporting agent Rodrigo Fernandez was quoted on Goal.com as saying: “Sunny is well aware of the interest shown in him by AEK and by Lorenzo Serra Ferrer.
“Last Monday Koeman told him that it would be better for him to find another team for the next few months, and that during this period it will be hard for him to even find a few minutes on the pitch.” Quotes that may, or may not, have originated from a Greek newspaper, SportDay.
All of which is quite fascinating.
As is this little story. He was, it seems, first spotted as a 15-year-old when on tour with his Nigerian club in Spain.
In order for him to sign for Poli Ejido, one of the club's directors took it upon himself to legally adopt the lad – hence the reason why that, though born in Nigeria, he also holds a Spanish passport. And has represented Spain at both Under-19 and Under-20 levels.
He is, therefore, an EU resident and will have no work permit restrictions…
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