Valencia make Sadiq enquiry

Valencia have approached Real Sociedad for out-of-favour striker Sadiq Umar as the Basque club look to offload the Nigerian, according to Spanish publication AS, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The Super Eagles striker has endured a difficult two-year stint with the La Liga club since joining them from Almeria during the 2022 summer for €20m.

After helping the Rojiblancos secure promotion to the Spanish topflight, the 27-year-old joined the Reale Arena outfits in a deal worth €26m plus add-ons and a 15 percent sell-on clause until the 2027/28 season.

Having started the 2022/23 season in fine form, scoring three goals in five matches with a debut goal for the Txuri-Urdinak against Atletico Madrid, Sadiq suffered an injury that saw him undergo surgery and was eventually out of action for 11 months.

Since his return from the ACL injury, Umar has failed to replicate the form that saw Sociedad invest in him, becoming the club’s most expensive signing.

Immediately after the 2023/24 season, the Kaduna-born expressed his desire to leave the club in search of first-team action.

Getafe, Sevilla, and Genoa have all shown interest in the Nigerian but are reluctant to meet Sociedad’s €20m asking price.

In a latest development, AS reported that Valencia have also contacted San Sebastian club, making enquiries about the striker.

“Many teams from Spain and abroad have asked about the Lanky striker,” the website wrote.

“Given his prolific seasons at Almería, where he scored a total of 43 goals and 19 assists in just two seasons, he still has a great reputation both nationally and internationally. Valencia asked about his situation.”

According to AS, Sociedad are demanding at least €15m plus a percentage of a future sale for the transfer of the striker, an unaffordable figure for clubs that mostly demand the loan of the ‘19’ texture burden, with his high salary also another impediment.