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Wanderers appear close to agreeing terms with former Real Madrid prodigy Derik Osede.
Reports in Spain claimed yesterday that a deal had been struck with the 22-year-old defender, who has represented Spain at under-21 level.
While sources inside the Macron Stadium deny the transfer has been completed, Neil Lennon is known to have watched Osede at the end of last season for Real feeder club Castilla, managed by French legend Zinedine Zidane.
The Whites boss has been looking to strengthen his options at centre-half after losing Matt Mills and Paddy McCarthy from last year’s crop.
The youngster has been within the Bernabeu ranks for 13 years but has not yet made his senior debut despite being drafted into the first team by Carlo Ancelotti a few years ago.
Despite being a member of the Spain side that lifted the Under-19s European Championships in 2012, the defender recently announced plans to switch allegiances to the country of his father’s birth, Nigeria.
Osede is out of contract this summer and discussed leaving Real on loan in an interview last month.
“The immediate plan now is to go out on loan elsewhere, because at this age I need stability and regular football to fulfil my dream,” he told the BBC World Service.
“Training alongside big players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Modric, Sergio Ramos and Pepe gives you a taste of what you can be as a footballer.
“The hard truth is that there is no available shortcut to reaching that level and staying there. I need to work extremely hard wherever I go and play first team football regularly.”
Several English clubs have been linked with him this summer, including Southampton, Watford, Burnley, Nottingham Forest and Wolves.
Source
Reports in Spain claimed yesterday that a deal had been struck with the 22-year-old defender, who has represented Spain at under-21 level.
While sources inside the Macron Stadium deny the transfer has been completed, Neil Lennon is known to have watched Osede at the end of last season for Real feeder club Castilla, managed by French legend Zinedine Zidane.
The Whites boss has been looking to strengthen his options at centre-half after losing Matt Mills and Paddy McCarthy from last year’s crop.
The youngster has been within the Bernabeu ranks for 13 years but has not yet made his senior debut despite being drafted into the first team by Carlo Ancelotti a few years ago.
Despite being a member of the Spain side that lifted the Under-19s European Championships in 2012, the defender recently announced plans to switch allegiances to the country of his father’s birth, Nigeria.
Osede is out of contract this summer and discussed leaving Real on loan in an interview last month.
“The immediate plan now is to go out on loan elsewhere, because at this age I need stability and regular football to fulfil my dream,” he told the BBC World Service.
“Training alongside big players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Modric, Sergio Ramos and Pepe gives you a taste of what you can be as a footballer.
“The hard truth is that there is no available shortcut to reaching that level and staying there. I need to work extremely hard wherever I go and play first team football regularly.”
Several English clubs have been linked with him this summer, including Southampton, Watford, Burnley, Nottingham Forest and Wolves.
Source
