Football: Watford, Leicester among teams eyeing Nigerian midfielder Adam Yakubu in January move

by Devesh Jaganath

image Football: Watford, Leicester among teams eyeing Nigerian midfielder Adam Yakubu in January move
The European winter transfer window is just a couple of weeks away from opening, and Adam Yakubu could be on the move from AS Trencin in January. Several reports in recent days have indicated that the Nigerian midfielder is on the radar of EFL Championship teams Watford and Leicester City.

Yakubu on the radar of several clubs across Europe

The first half of most European league seasons is almost complete, and the January transfer window will provide clubs with the opportunity to bolster their squads, either to push for higher places in their league standings or to try and avoid relegation. 

Leading up to the winter window, Nigerian rising star Adam Yakubu has been gaining attention from several clubs across Europe, including the likes of EFL Championship outfits Leicester City and Watford, as well as Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk and Pro League side KAA Gent. 

The 20-year-old joined his current team, AS Trencin, in the Slovak Super Liga in 2024 from Plateau United in the Nigerian Premier Football League, and has quickly become one of the team’s standout players this season. 

Yakubu has started 16 of his team’s 18 league matches this season and has been rock-solid in defensive midfield, helping Ricardo Moniz’s side reach the Round of 16 in the Slovnaft Cup and keep clean sheets in their last two top-flight games. 

It is understood that scouts from several English-based clubs have visited Stadion na Sihoti in recent weeks to watch the Nigerian youngster in action and were left impressed by the manner in which he has commanded the team’s engine room. 

Yakubu penned a two-year deal upon arriving in the Slovak Super Liga, which runs until the summer of 2026. According to Transfermarkt, his value is in the region of €200k, though it is expected that his current employers will place a much higher price tag on him in the coming weeks. 

Foxes to prioritise defensive reinforcements in January

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Leicester City were one of the teams that were expected to challenge for promotion back to the Premier League this season after suffering relegation last term, but things have not gone to plan for the Foxes to date.

After 21 league games, Martin Cifuentes’ side is in eighth place with 31 points (W8 D7 L6), already 11 points behind the automatic promotion spots and three points behind Hull City, who are the first side above the Playoff cutoff. 

A major contributing factor to the Foxes' current league position has been their leaky defensive unit, which has already shipped 27 goals to date - the same number as 21st-placed Portsmouth have conceded this season. 

In addition to Yakubu, Leicester are reportedly also mulling over a move for Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, who has become second-choice at the Stadium of Light since the arrival of Robin Roefs from NEC Nijmegen in the summer.