Celta Vigo of Spain look likely to snatch the signature of Joel Chukwuma Obi from Torino of Italy, despite equally vibrant interest in him from Sporting Lisbon of Portugal.
Obi has been told he can leave Torino this summer, as he is not in the first team plans of the Serie club’s coach Walter Mazzari, who is keen on using proceeds from his sale to strengthen the team.
Sporting Lisbon were the initial favourite to land the 26 year old but the current crisis rocking the team has worked in favour of Celta who are now ahead of the likes of Espanyol, Benfica and Crystal Palace in the race to sign the midfielder.
A fee in the region of €5m should be enough to sign him but with one year left to run on his deal, Celta Vigo will be looking for a fee less than Torino’s valuation of the player who has been with them for three seasons.
Since joining Torino on a permanent transfer he has scored 7 goals from 62 games with last season as his most productive in terms of goals and games played and it played a role in his making the Nigerian team to the World Cup.
