Hitman Moffi catching the eye of Premier League clubs

The month of January means many things to soccer fans; a chance to look forward to the second half of the season, or perhaps sign up for a new betting account such as those outlined in this Rhino Bet review. It is of course also the time of year when fans can be found consistently checking the Soccer News headlines for information on the latest transfers, as the January shopping spree begins in earnest.

When looking at the winter window, one of the Nigerian players most likely to be on the move is Lorient’s 23-year-old forward, Terem Moffi, who has lit up Ligue 1 with a series of sparkling displays so far this season.

Player Profile

Born in Calabar in 1999, Teremas Igobor Moffi had football in his blood, with his father Leo having enjoyed a career as a professional goalkeeper. However, it soon became clear that Terem’s talents lay at the other end of the pitch.

Making a splash on the Nigerian scene in his junior years, at 17 Moffi took the bold decision to relocate to Hastings, East Sussex, England when joining the Buckswood Football Academy in 2017.

His first professional contract came later that year when moving to the Baltic region to sign for the Lithuanian club Kauno Žalgiris. The powerful frontman bagged his first pro goal for the club, showing sufficient promise in just eight appearances to attract the attention of the Vilnius-based side Riterai. 

A sparkling 2019/20 campaign, in which he smashed in 20 goals in just 29 appearances, then saw Moffi on the move once again, this time taking the step up to Kortrijk in the Belgian League. 5 goals in 9 outings were sufficient to see Lorient give the player his chance in one of the top 5 European Leagues, as Moffi was on the move to Brittany.

Having worked his way up the footballing ladder, Moffi wasn’t about to let this opportunity pass him by. Impressing with his all-round game and goal contributions, the 6ft2in striker now has a total of 33 goals in 88 appearances for Lorient, with easily his best season to date being the current one. 

10 goals in 16 outings is impressive by any standards, proving to any doubters that one of Nigeria’s most promising young talents has what it takes to cut it at this level. Catching the eye of scouts all around Europe, Moffi may soon be on his travels once again, this time to the biggest stage of all – the English Premier League.

Southampton Leading the Race?

Sitting rock bottom of the Premier League, with a total of only 15 goals in 18 games, Southampton’s need for a reliable goal-scorer is there for all to see. If reports are to be believed, it seems that new boss Nathan Jones has identified Moffi as the man to alleviate the side’s woes in the final third. A bid of £8m has allegedly been rejected by Lorient, but don’t be surprised if the Saints return to the table with a new and improved offer.

However, Southampton may not be alone in their bid for the player. Frank Lampard’s Everton are also languishing in the relegation zone and have the second-worst goalscoring record in the division. Purse strings are tight at Goodison Park, but given the seriousness of their plight, the board may well sanction a move to improve an area of the team which has been underperforming for around a season and a half now. David Moyes West Ham United are another side credited with an interest in the player on the back of a desperate start to the season which sees the Hammers only outside of the relegation zone.

Wherever he ends up, it will be intriguing to follow the career trajectory of this rapidly improving player.
 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel