With just a few hours to go until the January transfer window, teams from across Europe are looking to put the finishing touches on their squad. While Super Eagles vice-captain William Troost-Ekong, Yira Sor, Ogenyi Onazi have secured exciting moves in this window, JOHNNY EDWARD check out some players who could still make moves come deadline day

Chuba Akpom (Middlesbrough)

Southampton’s potential £7m move for Middlesbrough striker Akpom appears to be out of character with the two clubs unable to agree on the terms of a deal, but with the player eager to move to the Premier League and negotiations in progress from now until the deadline day.

Akpom scored his 14th Championship goal (15th goal of the season) last weekend to help Middlesbrough return to winning ways and edge past Watford after beating fellow promotion contenders to third in the championship table.

Everton and Crystal Palace have also been linked with a move for the English striker of Nigerian descent, who has indicated his desire to represent Nigeria at senior level.

Paul Onuachu (Genk)

For the seventh transfer window in a row, Onuachu has been linked with a move away from Genk despite his goalscoring heroics for the club.

After being crowned Belgium’s goal king two seasons ago, Onuachu is currently the league’s top scorer with 16 league goals in 19 appearances for the Limburg side.

It remains to be seen if West Ham, Eintracht Frankfurt and Olympique Lyon, all interested in the Nigerian striker valued at 15 million euros for transfer markt, will make another late offer after Genk reportedly turned down a €12m offer from the Hammers in December. Onuachu is Genk’s second all-time top scorer with 85 goals in 134 matches.

Francis Uzoho (Moonier)

Uzoho, Nigeria’s fittest goalkeeper according to statistics website Transfermarkt, is another player who could switch clubs before the January deadline ends today.

The goalkeeper is seen as a possible replacement for Stade de Reims’ Patrick Pentz, who is about to complete his move to Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids.

The Eagles goalkeeper, who has kept more clean sheets (eight) than any of his compatriots in Europe this season, is reportedly interested in a winter outing as his current contract expires in the summer.

Josh Maja (Bordeaux)

Maja has seen her stock rise massively following her Ligue 2 resurgence with Bordeaux. The Nigerian one-match international, who leads the scoring chat with 11 goals in 20 appearances, is on the radar of Premier League club Fulham and Spanish side Real Valladolid. The 24-year-old, who is out of contract this summer, is in talks with the Cottagers, who are desperate to cover Aleksandar Mitrovic, who is the club’s top scorer with 11 goals in 17 EPL games.

Maduka Okoye (Watford)

It has been suggested that Okoye follow in William Troost-Ekong’s footsteps by leaving Watford in this transfer window due to his inactivity since joining the club in the summer. Capped 16 times by Nigeria, the Nigerian goalkeeper has yet to make his debut for the Hornets in the Championship despite having started two cup competitions, the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, where he conceded two goals in each game.

The 23-year-old has been linked with a return to the Eredivisie, while a return to Bundesliga 2 has also been discussed, according to reports.

Joe Aribo (Southampton)

After a bright start to his Premier League career with Southampton, Aribo has been linked away from Saint Marys after his form faltered following the arrival of new manager Nathan Jones.

The Nigerian midfielder took the EPL by storm, scoring against Leeds and Everton in his first eight games for the club. But since his last goal against the Toffees last October, he hasn’t scored, assisted or been involved in any goals Southampton have scored. He has been heavily linked with a loan move back to Glasgow Rangers as he has found it difficult to play regularly since Jones replaced Ralph Hassenuttl.

Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbache)

English Premier League clubs Crystal Palace and Bournemouth have made late moves to sign Fenerbahce defender Osayi-Samuel.

Following an impressive debut season in Turkey, Fenerbahce are demanding £12m for the winger they signed for €500,000 in January 2021.

He fanatic he also revealed that the Cherries will make another offer that includes bonuses for the Nigerian international.

Osayi-Samuel has yet to recover from the injury he sustained in Fenerbahçe’s Ziraat Turkish Cup match at home to Çaykur Rizespor in December.

The 25-year-old has settled in well in Istanbul with the first team and has made 27 appearances in all competitions for Canarias Amarillas this season.