Stop-start Super Eagles defensive midfielder Mikel Agu is reportedly on the cusp of a transfer to French league football according to reports from certain Nigerian online media outlets.
FC Nantes, who have high flying Super Eagles winger Moses Simon in their books, are said to have more or less completed the signing of the 27 year old tough tackler from Portuguese club Victor Guimarães having fended off competition from other French clubs.
Having said all that, the transfer remains speculation at this point as neither Guimarães nor Nantes have confirmed it. However, a source close to Nigerian footballers and transfer matters said to Afrofooty that he believes the deal is near enough 'done and dusted'.
Over the years, Mikel Agu has developed into a competent, capable and crafty defensive midfielder with the capacity to shield defenders effectively at high level football.
Just last season in league matches in Portugal per game, Agu reportedly won 53% of ground duels and 52% of aerial ones. His accurate passes per game is 84% while his successful dribbles are recorded at 87% (all according to sofascore.com).
These impressive statistics and all round upward trajectory in his development as a midfielder have made him a transfer target from clubs across Europe with Nantes now reported to have landed the Super Eagles man.
On the issue of the Super Eagles, Mikel Agu could easily have gone to the 2018 World Cup and 2019 Afcon but missed out on both due to ill-timed injuries.
Out of a potential 30 caps for Nigeria since 2017, Mikel Agu has only managed a meagre 7 games for the Super Eagles, hence currently establishing his reputation of a fringe player.
Should this move to Nantes materialise, it will mean playing in a top 5 league which should enhance his chances of future Super Eagles invitations.
Mikel Agu does have a part to play in Nigeria's quest to conquer Africa and set new records at the Fifa World Cup. Moving to the French league is surely a step in the right direction.
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