Arsenal are reportedly in talks with Norwegian club Viking over a possible loan deal for their new recruit and Nigerian starlet Kelechi Nwakali
The Daily Star has reported that Arsenal will let their new signing go out on loan to gain some first team experience in Europe. Nwakali, who was the star for his country in the Under-17 world cup last year, also won the player of the tournament due to a string of impressive performances.
He is at the moment not able to play for the Gunners due to work permit issues in the United Kingdom.
This is not the first time that a young Arsenal recruit who is talented and promising has to be loaned out due to a work permit issue; Costa Rica international Joel Campbell and promising Brazilian wonder kid Wellington, both had to be sent out on a series of loan spells due to this issue.
Of the two, Campbell performed well and was integrated into Arsenal’s first team last season. He played 30 times in all competitions and did not miss on a chance when he was drafted into the first team due to injuries in the first team squad.
Brazilian winger Wellington, however, did not make a single first team appearance for the club. One cannot help but worry that these functional realities of ‘not being able to play’ in England have some sort of an equation with not being able to grow as a footballer, and eventually playing for Arsenal.
This was the case with Wellington, and one can only hope that Nwakali’s situation does not progress in the same way.
Kelechi Nwakali joined Arsenal from Nigerian club Diamond Football Academy for a £3m fee. He could join the Norwegian side by Wednesday, which is the transfer deadline.
Several young and interesting prospects from Nigeria have done well in the Premier League recently, such as Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho. One can hope that Nwakali will deliver at the top level as well, in the future.
