Former Super Eagles invitee, Samuel Kalu may have to settle for a summer deal at Bayer Leverkusen of Germany, following the decision by AS Monaco of France to withdraw from a summer chase for his signature.
Kalu had been optimistic of becoming the next Nigerian, after Victor Nosa Ikpeba, Lukman Haruna and Elderson Uwa Echiejile, to star for Monaco, but now could become the next after Karibe Pascal Ojigwe to don the shirts of Leverkusen.
This follows reports at the start of the week indicating that Monaco have pulled out of the race to sign Kalu from KAA Gent of Belgium.
This comes after the 20-year-old Jos-born winger-cum-attacker was priced out of a move to the French Ligue 1 side by Gent, whose fee on his signature appeared just too high for Monaco, even after their first bid was turned down few months ago.
Monaco have since moved on from plans to sign Kalu, by snapping up another player in place of the former SK Trencin of Slovakia forward, who ended last season with ten assists and seven goals in Belgium’s top-flight league.
Leverkusen are now clear favourite to land him, but their move will depend on a possible sale of Leon Bailey, who has been linked with a move away from the Bundesliga club.
A fee in the region of €15m should be enough to tempt Gent into selling Kalu, though they are wary of losing him fellow-Nigerian forward, Moses Simon in same transfer window.
