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With Taiwo Awoniyi, Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho facing decisive Premier League denouements, we examine their survival prospects and rank each player’s chances of securing top-flight moves if their current teams go down.
Paul Onuachu and Joe Aribo suffered the ignominy of relegation with Southampton last weekend after a 24th defeat of the season at Fulham confirmed what we all knew months back.
Eight Premier League Nigerians have been cut to six, but the latter are not safe from the relegation scrap – save for Frank Onyeka, whose Brentford are ninth.
Deeply embroiled in the battle for survival are Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City), Alex Iwobi (Everton) and Taiwo Awoniyi and Emmanuel Dennis (Nottingham Forest), with their respective clubs facing two decisive gameweeks in the next eight days to determine their futures.
Leicester’s Nigerians face tough run-in
Ndidi and Iheanacho’s Foxes are winless in four, picking up two points from an available 12, but the manner of the two recent losses have rankled.
Dean Smith had looked to play more front-foot football, but that has come at a defensive cost, as the East Midlands side have shipped 15 goals in six games under Brendan Rodgers’ replacement (2.5 goals conceded per game) while scoring eight times. In Rodgers’s final six league fixtures, those numbers were 10 goals against and five scored.
Iheanacho could play a pivotal part in the Foxes’ daunting trip to Champions League-chasing Newcastle United and Europa Conference League finalists West Ham United, having recovered from the injury sustained while helping to set up Leicester’s equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Leeds United.
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Ndidi has been in and out of the side, starting half of Smith’s six games, but the defensive midfielder should feature in some capacity for the 19th-placed outfit, who could go down this weekend if they are beaten at Newcastle, and Everton and Forest defeat Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal, respectively.
Alex Iwobi's survival ambition
Everton may have followed that stunning 5-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion with an expected 3-0 loss at the hands of champions-elect Manchester City, but they can ensure survival in round 37 if they secure maximum points against Wolves and Leeds and Leicester falter at West Ham and Newcastle, respectively.
Iwobi’s performances have mostly remained consistent despite the Toffees’ struggles, and much will depend on Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s fitness. The centre-forward was withdrawn at half-time against Pep Guardiola’s men, but Sean Dyche disclosed that the 26-year-old was set to rejoin training on Friday.
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Iwobi has played a pivotal part under Dyche, as he did under the manager’s predecessor, and the former Arsenal man is likely to be trusted in the next two fixtures.
Awoniyi’s strong finish at Forest
While Emmanuel Dennis signed for the Tricky Trees in mid-August, the former Watford man has played minimally all season, playing from the start six times and coming on as a substitute on 12 occasions. Dennis has played 12 minutes since mid-April, even failing to make the last two squads.
Awoniyi has played a more prominent role for Steve Cooper’s men, even if the centre-forward’s campaign was interrupted by a two-month groin injury that saw the player miss nine Premier League games.
A pair of braces in successive games against Southampton (4-3 win) and Chelsea (2-2) have taken the Super Eagle’s tally to eight, jointly leading the club’s scoring charts with Brennan Johnson.
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23:13 - 13.05.2023
ANALYSIS Awoniyi has embraced the chaos - Forest striker could be the difference between safety and relegation
The Nigerian's brace at Chelsea secured a point for Steve Cooper's men, which could have relegation implications for the Tricky Trees and the teams around them.
The 16th-placed Forest hosts Arsenal in Saturday’s tea-time clash, with a victory over the league’s second-best team nearly guaranteeing survival and participation next season. They close out the season with a trip to Crystal Palace.
Admittedly, only two of Leicester, Everton and Forest will be relegated. But we rank the likelihood of said players getting moves to Premier League sides if their current teams fail to beat the drop.
Alex Iwobi
Possibly the most consistent player in the league’s bottom half, Iwobi’s performances in an otherwise second-rate Everton side have been commendable.
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The versatile Super Eagle leads the way for almost every attacking metric, with no teammate outdoing the Nigerian’s seven assists, 61 key passes, 128 passes into the final third, 59 passes into the penalty area and 15 crosses into the 18-yard box.
Only Idrissa Gueye and Dwight McNeil edge Iwobi for per 90 metrics in crosses into the penalty area per 90 and passes into the final third.
Iwobi has played more in-play passes (86) leading to shot attempts, and eight open-play passes have led to goals.
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With one year remaining on the contract he signed in 2019, Everton could cash in on the midfielder this summer if they do not beat the drop.
Taiwo Awoniyi
If Forest fails to beat the drop, there is a feeling Awoniyi could be coveted by newly-promoted sides or top-flight teams, even if the five-year deal signed when he moved to the City Ground could be a stumbling block.
The ex-Union striker proved himself in one of Europe’s top-five leagues in 2021-22 and has shown enough in the Premier League that last season was not a one-off.
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Kelechi Iheanacho
‘Seniorman’ is a statistical darling for making much from so little, and the forward could be a beneficiary of his profile.
Iheanacho has never been first-choice for a sustained period at the King Power Stadium, but the former Manchester City frontman could be one of the players sold by the Foxes due to his contract expiring in 2024.
With a knack for scoring from nothing and intermittently facilitating teammates, ‘Seniorman’ could be acquired for a cut-price fee this summer.
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Wilfred Ndidi
A succession of injuries in the last four campaigns have lessened Ndidi’s Premier League appearances.
The Leicester man started 33 and 37 games in 2017-18 and the following season, respectively, but game time has dwindled. The subsequent four campaigns have seen the defensive midfielder play from the off 29 (2019-20), 25 (2020-21) and 18 (2021-22) times, while 18 starts have been made this term.
No longer first-choice at the Foxes and certainly not in the top category among players in similar roles, Ndidi’s stock has fallen.
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With injuries a bugbear, it remains to be seen who takes a gamble on the Super Eagle despite his expiring contract in 2024.
Emmanuel Dennis
Despite a commendable start at Watford in 2021-22, Dennis has shown little to earn another Premier League move.
Having four years to go on his contract could deter sides looking for a forward, with the absence of any meaningful contribution not helping his prospects.
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05:20 - 13.05.2023
TRANSFERS Why Nigeria Super Eagles star Iwobi could leave Everton this season
A mass exodus is set to hit Everton this season with Nigeria Super Eagles playmaker Alex Iwobi one of the big names who could leave the club.
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