Soccer
Super Eagles and Nottingham Forest star Taiwo Awoniyi. Photo by IMAGO
Werder Bremen are working frantically in the final hours of the transfer window to strengthen their attack, with two Nigeria Super Eagles strikers firmly on their radar, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Bundesliga club have opened talks with Bayer Leverkusen over a loan deal for Victor Boniface, according to Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg.
The move for Boniface comes even as Bremen are also exploring the possibility of bringing Taiwo Awoniyi back to Germany from Nottingham Forest.
Boniface, 24, has endured a turbulent summer. A proposed switch to AC Milan collapsed after concerns over his fitness, and his future at Leverkusen remains unclear despite returning to full training.
The former Union SG star has yet to feature this season, sitting behind Patrik Schick in the pecking order, though the arrival of a new manager could give him another chance to stake a claim.
Get Our Sports News First – Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!
Bremen’s interest comes at a time when their season has started poorly. A first-round exit from the DFB Pokal was followed by defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt and a chaotic 3-3 draw with Leverkusen, in which Karim Coulibaly spared them with a late equaliser.
Securing Super Eagles forward Boniface would offer them the firepower they desperately need.
Awoniyi, meanwhile, is facing an uncertain future at Forest.
Injuries have limited his influence, and the arrivals of Igor Jesus and Arnaud Kalimuendo have pushed him further down the order under Nuno Espírito Santo. The 27-year-old has been left out of Forest’s last two matchday squads and looks surplus to requirements at the City Ground.
Bremen see Awoniyi as an appealing target, not least because of his proven Bundesliga experience during his time at Union Berlin, where his goals earned him a £17.5m move to Forest in 2022. Any deal is expected to be structured as a loan with an option to buy, a formula that would suit both clubs.
Boniface, despite his current struggles, remains one of Leverkusen’s most highly rated forwards. He scored 21 goals and supplied nine assists in his debut campaign under Xabi Alonso, helping the club win their first Bundesliga title. Last season he added another 11 goals before injuries disrupted his rhythm.
With the deadline approaching, Bremen must now decide whether to gamble on Boniface’s potential revival or move for Awoniyi’s Bundesliga know-how.
It is, however, clear that Werder Bremen want at least one Nigerian striker before the transfer window closes.
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele turns into a ball of passion when writing about Nigerian football and its talents, whether rising stars or established legends, locally and abroad.
From the deepest corners of the Middle East, to the green fields of the Americas, to the celebrated grounds in Europe, and the rich soils of Africa, Imhons is more than glad, usually with a glass of a tasty drink nearby, to capture the essence of the game, by connecting the dots between culture, identity, and football.
Read MoreImhonlamhen Eronmhonsele