Nwakali set for loan move!

Nigeria U-20 international Kelechi Nwakali is being tipped to be farmed out on loan for the second consecutive season. In his assessment of Arsenal’s 35 young professionals, Gunners youth-team guru Jeorge Bird has predicted that the Flying Eagles skipper will return to London for pre-season ahead of a loan move.

”After excelling on loan in the Dutch second tier with Maastricht last season, another spell elsewhere seems likely for the talented Nigeria youth international,” Jeorge Bird said.

”Firstly, though, he could spend pre-season with Arsenal.”

The 19-year-old Nwakali is not yet qualified to be granted a work permit in England based on the transfers fees Arsenal paid to secure his signature from Diamond/ASJ Academy, and has yet to debut for the Super Eagles.

He experienced first team football last season, making 33 appearances in the Dutch second tier for MVV Maastricht, including the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Watford loanee Uche Agbo has been ranked among the top four Under 21 players with the most tackles in Europe top five leagues consisting of La Liga, Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1.

The midfield enforcer and central defender won 77 tackles in the 31 matches he played in the Spanish top division last term and was the only African young star considered on the list.

Agbo, 21, had a tackle-winning percentage of 66, and ranked second in that category behind Bayer Leverkusen fullback Benjamin Henrichs.

Henrichs, Lucas Torreira (Sampdoria) and Dani Ceballos (Real Betis) were the only U-21 players that won more tackles than Uche over the course of the 2016-17 season.

Henrichs won 98 tackles, Torreira 97 while Spain U-21 star Ceballos won 92 tackles.