Football
Exclusive: Plzeň Star Rafiu Durosinmi Sparks EPL and EFL Transfer Battle
Eight English Football League clubs have been offered the chance to sign Viktoria Plzeñ striker Rafiu Durosinmi in the winter transfer window. The 22-year-old Nigerian has impressed with 12 goals this season, sparking interest from Premier League and Championship sides. Plzen may sell for £6 million or risk losing him for free next summer. Rafiu's playing style is described as unconventional and well-suited for English football. Stay tuned for potential transfer updates.
FBL-C3-EUR-ASROMA-PLZEN by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE | Getty Images
Eight English Football League clubs have been offered a chance at signing Viktoria Plzeñ striker Rafiu Durosinmi in the upcoming winter transfer window, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
English Premier League clubs Burnley, Brentford, Fulham, Sunderland and West Ham are said to be exploring their chances of taking a plump on the player while a trio of Championship sides Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton have also being alerted.
Rafiu, 22 have started the season in sensational fashion, notching 12 goals including twice in the Europa League so far.
And these clubs scouts have brought back rave reviews, prompting more potential transfer movements on his behalf.
WILL RAFIU MOVE IN JANUARY?
The question which lingers around his itinerary as things stand is whether any of the interested clubs will ramp up negotiations solid enough to secure his signature before the winter window slams shut.
On the other hand, Plzen who have remained coy on the prospect are not intent on losing their star particularly as they continue to target silverware on all fronts in the Czech division, and Rafiu will undoubtedly be instrumental to any spectacular run they make in Europe's second tier competition.
However, they risk losing him on a free as the Nigerian comes off contract in the summer of next year having joined Plzen on a three-year deal in July 2023.
His intermediary Lee Marsh said in an exclusive chat with SportsBoom that there could be a chance of transfer activity over the coming couple of weeks, but intending clubs will need to show the right attitude and a project that fits the lad's development.
"It's all about getting the best project that matches his ambition. It's not easy, but he can go from Czech to the UK and be such an amazing player," he told SportsBoom.com.
A couple of Championship sides, Hull City and Derby County have both being credited with interests in the Lagos-born striker.
Plzen will be looking for a fee in the region of £6 million should they be cashing in on their prized asset, a decent financial windfall from the €850,000 figure that brought him from Karviná.
HIS STYLE OF PLAY
Rafiu's highlight reel is a plethora of unorthodox, predatory goalscoring abilities.
A gangling yet powerful forward who excels at taking on opposing defenders, he's being described by observers at close quarters as the perfect foil for the methodical, swift pace of English football.
Manager Martin Hyský has had to admit on occasions the importance of the player to how Plzen play, and that is even made more obvious with his contributions upfront for the six-time Czech First League winners.
Since he broke loose from the shackles of long hours huddled up in a hot classroom learning Mandarin Chinese and Pinyin at the famous Confucius Institute, UNIZIK, Emmanuel Chinaza has embraced sports and football in particular, and it helped that he grew up in the football-crazy city of Anambra.