HOT RAISE: Stuttgart, Chelsea, ManU Chases Okocha

VINDAVE · Post by **VINDAVE** » Tue Jan 13, 2004 9:02 am

Okocha who was handed Bolton’s captainship band after a scintillating performance that helped the club escape relegation last season is currently chased by English giants, Manchester United, and free-spending Chelsea.

According to reports from a football website, Soccerage, the German club, Stuttgart, are planning to lay their hands on the influential Nigerian captain before they is beaten to it by their English rivals.

If Stuttgart who are currently campaigning in the UEFA Champions League, get the Nigerian captain, it will be Okocha’s second time in Germany, having cut his professional football teeth there more than a decade ago.

As at Monday morning, he was said to have reported for training with Bolton in spite of the fact that he was due to report at Faro on Sunday

http://www.punchng.com/sports/article07

omonaija · Post by **omonaija** » Tue Jan 13, 2004 9:08 am

i DON'T THINK OKOCHA WILL GO BACK TO GERMANY

temitope · Post by **temitope** » Tue Jan 13, 2004 9:10 am

STUTTGART TARGET OKOCHA
Monday 12th January 2004 www.skysports.com By Thomas Zeh

Stuttgart coach Felix Magath is eyeing up an ambitious swoop for Bolton Wanderers skipper Jay-Jay Okocha.
The Nigerian international is jetting off for the African Cup of Nations, much to the dismay of Trotters boss Sam Allardyce, and the Bolton chief will be less than impressed to learn his star man has emerged as a transfer target for Stuttgart.
Magath would love to add to his squad during the winter transfer window, and tried to sign Rapid Vienna's talented German playmaker Steffen Hofmann.
Talks with Hofmann have stalled in the past weeks as the 23-year-old seems willing to stay in Austria for the meantime and Magath is now believed to have turned his attention elsewhere, with Okocha and Auxerre star Olivier Kapo likely candidates.
The much-travelled Bolton star, who will be a free agent next summer, left his home country for German outfit Borussia Neunkirchen and later had a highly successful spell with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Swabians might struggle to fulfil Okocha's wage demands after handing lucrative long-term deals to shooting-stars Andreas Hinkel and Kevin Kuranyi, but Magath might hope that the prospect of competing for glory in the Bundesliga and the UEFA Champions League will lure Okocha back to Germany.
Allardyce will fight tooth-and-nail to keep Okocha at The Reebok Stadium and although a departure looks highly unlikely at present, the African may decide he wants to play in European competition towards the end of his career.
Kapo could be Magath's best bet as he would be allowed to leave Auxerre for the right price, and it may depend on how much he wants Okocha in his squad.

omonaija · Post by **omonaija** » Tue Jan 13, 2004 9:16 am

temitope wrote:STUTTGART TARGET OKOCHA
Monday 12th January 2004 www.skysports.com By Thomas Zeh

Stuttgart coach Felix Magath is eyeing up an ambitious swoop for Bolton Wanderers skipper Jay-Jay Okocha.
The Nigerian international is jetting off for the African Cup of Nations, much to the dismay of Trotters boss Sam Allardyce, and the Bolton chief will be less than impressed to learn his star man has emerged as a transfer target for Stuttgart.
Magath would love to add to his squad during the winter transfer window, and tried to sign Rapid Vienna's talented German playmaker Steffen Hofmann.
Talks with Hofmann have stalled in the past weeks as the 23-year-old seems willing to stay in Austria for the meantime and Magath is now believed to have turned his attention elsewhere, with Okocha and Auxerre star Olivier Kapo likely candidates.
The much-travelled Bolton star, who will be a free agent next summer, left his home country for German outfit Borussia Neunkirchen and later had a highly successful spell with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Swabians might struggle to fulfil Okocha's wage demands after handing lucrative long-term deals to shooting-stars Andreas Hinkel and Kevin Kuranyi, but Magath might hope that the prospect of competing for glory in the Bundesliga and the UEFA Champions League will lure Okocha back to Germany.
Allardyce will fight tooth-and-nail to keep Okocha at The Reebok Stadium and although a departure looks highly unlikely at present, the African may decide he wants to play in European competition towards the end of his career.
Kapo could be Magath's best bet as he would be allowed to leave Auxerre for the right price, and it may depend on how much he wants Okocha in his squad.

I didn't know that Andreas Hinkel and Kevin Kuranyi played for 'sooting stars' of Ibadan! Wonders shall never end....!