Nigeria Content Online

If West Bromwich
Albion plan on remaining in the English Premier League come the end of
next season, then it is imperative that they retain the services of
Nigerian forward Osaze Odemwingie.

This was the
opinion posited by the club’s manager, Roy Hodgson, who warned that
selling the Nigerian international could have disastrous consequences
for the Baggies who, following last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Tottenham,
are now six points above the drop zone.

Odemwingie opened
scoring for the Baggies in that draw against Tottenham to take his
goals tally to 13 in the Premier League and further draw the attention
of a host of European clubs eager to lure him away from the Hawthorns.

Juventus are
reportedly in the forefront for the Nigerian’s signature and will look
to make an official bid once the transfer window reopens on July 1.

Hodgson however has
no intention of parting with the Nigerian and is banking on the club’s
board to help him keep the former Lokomotiv Moscow star.

The former
Liverpool and Fulham manager also knows it is important for a club of
West Brom’s stature to retain their best players if they plan on
remaining in the English top flight.

“It would be nice if Juventus told us (they were interested) rather than us having to hear it from the media,” Hodgson said.

“But it’s a
no-brainer really, isn’t it? If you’re going to have a spell of years –
even if it’s only two – in the Premier League then you’ve got to
improve your team.” To do that, however, Hodgson feels he needs to
bring in a number of new players ahead of next season’s campaign.

He added: “We are
running on a reasonably small squad of players. We are asking an awful
lot of inexperienced players who are getting better all the time.

“But if we want to
have a good Premier League campaign next season, it is very important
we sign several players in the summer that will really help us.

“It will also take
some of the burden away from the Youssuf Mulumbus and Peter Odemwingies
who, you must remember, are in their first season in the Premier
League.”

Backing the boss

Hodgson isn’t alone
in his assessment of the club’s situation as he has the backing of
Simon Cox who has called on the club’s chairman, Jeremy Peace, to do
everything in his power to retain the Nigerian.

Although Cox, who
grabbed West Brom’s second goal at White Hart Lane, admitted that West
Brom might face a fight to keep Odemwingie, he is confident the club’s
chairman will fight off any attempt to take him away from the club.

“We want him to do
as well for us as he can for as long as he is here,” said Cox. “He has
been an absolute revelation for us this year.

He added: “If he keeps doing this inevitably the big boys will come sniffing for him but our chairman is no mug.

“He will try to keep him for as long as he can and it’s going to have to be a hefty price tag to tear him away.”