Bayern Munich lead race to sign Henry Onyekuru from Everton in January transfer window

GERMAN giants Bayern Munich are considering putting in a bid for Super Eagles winger Henry Onyekuru when the January transfer window opens having viewed him as an ideal replacement for Frenchman Frank Ribery.

Onyekuru, 21, is owned by English Premier League side Everton but is currently out on loan to Galatasaray of Turkey, where he has made a significant impact this season. He is viewed by the hierarchy of the Bundesliga giants as the ideal replacement for 35 year old  Ribery who is expected to retire from professional football in few years time.

Capped five times by Nigeria, Bayern hope to sign Onyekuru and loan him back to Galatasaray for the rest of the season before bringing him into their team in next summer when Ribery’s contract ends. However they are not the only team interested in the striker who has four goals from 14 games this season with Marseille‎ and PSG also lining up moves for him.

Napoli have also been mentioned as one of the clubs interested in luring Onyekuru from Everton. His contract at Everton runs until 2022 and the Toffees will demand a fee in excess of the £7m they paid to Eupen to sign him two seasons ago.

Meanwhile, Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has revealed that Leon Balogun's spot as first choice central defender for Nigeria is no longer guarantee unless he starts getting games at English Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion. Balogun has found it hard to displace the first choice pairing of Shane Duffy and Lewis Dunk since his move on a free transfer from German side Mainz O5 in the summer.

So far this season, Balogun has played only two games this season which according to Rohr is not good enough for a player who is already 30 years old as it will no doubt affect his fitness and physical shape. Mr Rohr hinted that unless Balogun starts playing or switches clubs in January to where he can get game time ‎, it will be hard for him to maintain his Oyibo Wall central defence pairing with William Troost-Ekong.

Mr Rohr added: “On Leon Balogun, we will insist all the time on our player playing regularly because it's the same for other players. We tell them sometimes that it’s better to play in smaller club than to go to a big club in the Premier League and you don’t play.

“He’s 30 now which means that if he’s not playing, it will be more difficult for him to be fit. We will speak with these players who have this problem and when the January transfer window opens we will see."

In the meantime, English Championship side Rotherham United are facing a struggle to hang on to defender Semi Ajayi, 25, following his exploits at club and national level this season. Ajayi is now a fully-fledged senior international with Nigeria with three caps to his name all within a space of three months with the Super Eagles.

At club level, he has been ever present for Rotherham this season with his partnership with in the heart of Rotherham’s defence with Clark Robertson earning positive reviews the past six games, in which they have gone unbeaten. Rotherham coach Paul Warne, has said keeping Ajayi at the club is his main priority when the January transfer window opens.