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Super Eagles
defender Onyekachi Apam’s days at his French club OGC Nice appears to
be numbered as the Nigerian defender has set his sights on leaving the
first division side at the end of the season.

The 23 year-old
joined Nice in 2005 from Nigerian Premier division side, Enugu Rangers,
and has over the past five years become synonymous with the Cote d’Azur
based club that has won the French Ligue 1 title on four occasions and
lifted the French Cup three times.

Their last league title however came as far back as 1959 while their last French Cup conquest arrived in 1997.

In fact, their best
finish in the league since Apam’s arrival was 8th in the 2005/06
season; and they are currently 15th in the 20-team Ligue 1 table with
just four games to the end of the season.

As a result, Apam
feels it is time to call it a day with his only European club to date
as he seeks to further his career away from the Stade Municipal du Ray,
preferably at a club capable of winning laurels and competing at
prestigious European club competitions such as the UEFA Champions
League.

Ambitions

“I want to join a
club that competes for the title and takes part in European
competitions,” explained Apam in an interview with French Football
website. “I want to play at a higher level, and this could be in France
or abroad.Since I started playing here, I have progressed a lot, but I
want to move to a bigger club.”

A host of French
clubs, most notably Bordeaux, Lille, PSG, Rennes, and current Ligue 1
leaders, Marseille, have overtime expressed interest in securing the
services of the versatile Nigerian defender.

Last season, Rennes
reportedly made an offer that was turned down by Nice, but French
Football reports that the current club of Apam’s Super Eagles team mate
Elderson Echiejile could likely be the next destination for the
Nigerian who will, if the deal comes to pass, be reunited with his
former coach and mentor Frederic Antonetti.

But this is by far
not a certainty as the likes of Marseille and PSG, as well as English
Premier League outfit Sunderland have reportedly sent scouts to watch
Apam on several occasions.

“I will leave all
that for my agent (Pierre Frelot), but all I can say is that it is time
for me to move, in France or abroad,” continued Apam.

“I had a chance to
leave last season, but I decided to remain for one more season. I was
also assured by the former president (Maurice Cohen) that I would leave
at the end of the season,” added Apam.

If Apam’s departure
does come to pass, Nice will be in the transfer market for a central
defender and reports suggest they have expressed an interest in
bringing back home French defender Maxim Brillault who currently plays
for Belgian club Charleroi.