'The dream' - 11-goal forward Olusanya eyes PL move amid stalled contract negotiations

St Mirren forward Toyosi Olusanya has addressed speculation surrounding his future, admitting that while a move to the Premier League has always been a dream, he remains undecided on his next step as his contract nears expiration.  

The former Middlesbrough forward is in the final five months of his deal and St Mirren have offered him a contract extension with improved terms, but negotiations have stalled, leaving his future uncertain.  

Speaking to Daily Record, Olusanya emphasized his focus on delivering strong performances rather than contract distractions.  

"In every game I just want to play my best. Every time I'm on the pitch it's an opportunity to make the best account of myself. And by no means have I made any decisions yet. So I'm just taking each game as it comes. I just want to put myself in the best position possible come summer and see what happens from there," he said.  

The 27-year-old also revealed that discussions with the club have been put on hold to avoid disruptions.  

"We’ve not spoken about it lately. Obviously I spoke to the gaffer a few weeks ago and agreed the best thing for myself is to focus solely on the games that are coming up," Olusanya stated. 

"I feel like as a player, the more you go into the contract talks, the more it can derail your focus on the pitch. So we've left it at that and we can reassess when the time is right again."

Despite the uncertainty, Olusanya acknowledged his long-standing dream of playing in the Premier League but remains realistic about his future.  

"The dream was always to play in the Premier League, but I'm a bit past that now! So now I have no idea how high I can go. I just want to keep on doing well for myself personally.

"Age and fitness wise, I'd love to play for like another eight, nine, 10 years, to be one of those players that are in their mid-30s and still fit, still strong, injury-free and can play week in, week out. 

"But in terms of where my ceiling is, obviously, I don't know. Every player thinks they can go higher.

"Every player thinks if they do what they need to do and improve where they need to, then there's always a possibility of a step up. I’d like to think that I could play higher but right now I'm here and I'm enjoying it and I'm appreciative of everything that's come with it.

“If I'm not playing well, performing, then obviously I'm not meant to reach a higher level. But I'm not thinking about going higher or necessarily going anywhere, I just want to improve myself at this moment."

The forward has been in exceptional form for St Mirren this season, scoring 11 goals and registering one assist in 31 matches across all competitions.  

With contract negotiations yet to resume, Olusanya remains committed to his short-term goal of hitting double digits in the league before considering his next move.  

"Double digits was the initial target, so I've got 11 now.

“Obviously you always set yourself new targets as a player, you can never be complacent. So now I want double digits in the league. Hopefully I can reach 10 in the league and then look to get even more.”

Olusanya's impressive performances could attract interest from clubs in England and beyond, but for now, he remains focused on helping St Mirren achieve their season objectives.

Adeyemi Adewale

Photo Credit: stmirren.com

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