Spurs to Beat Portsmouth Again by Signing £5M Serie A Nigerian Anchorman: West Brom & Newcastle also Interested
Tottenham are reportedly set to beat Portsmouth to the signing of Udinese midfield anchorman Christian Obodo in the January transfer window which will sour relations between the club further. Not content with taking both manager Harry Redknapp and star striker Jermain Defoe from Fratton Park, it would seem Spurs will also outbid the South-Coast club to one of their major transfer window targets.
The 24-year-old has become a bit-part player at the Serie A club this season in the last 2 seasons as the Swiss international Gokhan Inler has come to the fore in his position. In fact, Obodo has played in just 6 League games this season (1 start). Last season the Nigerian international made just 1 substitute appearance in Serie A and is set to leave the club.
Obodo was born in Lagos and begun his career in his homeland for Plateau United prior to a move to Italy with Perugia in 2001. The 2002/03 season saw the midfielder stamp his mark for the Italian side playing in 30 League games (21 starts) and scoring once. After yet another impressive season in 2003/04 when he made 31 League appearances (30 starts) he was sold to Fiorentina. However, the Viola only bought half of the player’s registration rights so despite an impressive first season both Fiorentina and Perugia held a blind auction to decide his future. Perugia won the auction but sold him immediately to his present club Udinese.
After two successful first seasons with Udinese partnering Sulley Muntari in the centre of midfield in the debut campaign, injury and the signing of Gokhan Inler limited the number of games the Nigerian played in so he expected to be sold this January.
Obodo has been capped 11 times by Nigeria but failed to establish himself in the Super Eagles side.
The 5 ft 9 anchorman is an aggressive, combative midfielder who is seen by Tony Adams as the perfect replacement for Lassana Diarra for Pompey. At £5m he is not overly expensive but with both Tottenham, Newcastle and West Brom interested, Adams will have to move quickly.
Do you think Obodo is the type of player your club needs or would you prefer another potential target? Let’s hear your views.
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Tags: Christian Obodo, Newcastle, Portsmouth, Tottenham, Udinese, West Brom
January 14th, 2009 at 16:59
Pompey are as big a club if not bigger than Spurs, better fans, better players, lets hope Judas Harry and Defoe enjoy the Championship!
January 14th, 2009 at 17:05
jeez where do people come up with such rubbish. He was not one of the shortlist of transfer targets as far as I know. There will be 5 new signings as has already been reported
January 14th, 2009 at 17:08
Being a portsmouth fan i must conceed that spurs are a much much bigger club they have a good future. so much i love obodo to sign for us i doubt it would happen….
January 14th, 2009 at 17:08
How do you know who is on the shortlist james? Do you think Adams would announce them? Very niaive mate!
January 14th, 2009 at 17:12
Shame you don’t have anyone else we fancy as our feeder club. How about Krancjar he would do a job too!
January 14th, 2009 at 17:16
Dont be silly Pompey chimes, no matter how much i would love to say it. Pompey are no where near a bigger club then spurs, poor form recently yea, but remember harry redknapp said it was he last chance to manage a ‘big’ club.
Sorry pompey fans
January 14th, 2009 at 17:40
topgunners right spurs are 3x as big as pompey at least look at how many cups spurs have have won over the past century while pompy the only cuop theyve won in that time is the fa cup against CARDIFF CITY under HARRY REDKNAPP the spurs manager
January 14th, 2009 at 17:41
topgunners right spurs are 3x as big as pompey at least look at how many cups spurs have have won over the past century while pompy the only cup theyve won in that time is the fa cup against CARDIFF CITY under HARRY REDKNAPP the spurs manager
January 14th, 2009 at 18:11
Ah Jamo that’s where you’re wrong. We’ve won 2 FA Cups and the league in the past 100 years. Research beforehand.
January 14th, 2009 at 19:27
sorry Elio, 2 fa cups. thats in comparison to our 8 fa cups, 4 league cups, 2 uefa cups and 2 league titles (top division of english football). research or no, we have a bigger fan base, are known all over the world, will soon have 60,000 attendance at state of the art stadium. i lived in portsmouth for a year and fratton park is a shed!
January 14th, 2009 at 20:12
chris obodo is a great player,very aggressive,skilful and attacks to the core.
January 14th, 2009 at 21:45
How have Spurs beaten Pompey before (”Spurs to Beat Portsmouth Again”)????
2-0 wasn’t it?
How’s that quest for 4th placing coming along for the Lilywhites? PMSL
Look up to the skies Spurs fans, you can just make out Arsenal up there, far away. Ouch.
January 15th, 2009 at 06:36
Obodo will be a fantastic buy for Spurs as he is the perfect box to box midfielder who will pair excellently with Appiah and fight hard in the midfield. He also has a good eye for goal, good dribbler and shooting abilities. Injury to this player affected Nigeria’s bid to win the last cup of nations. Unlike mentioned in this article, Obodo is a regular in the super eagles whenever he is fit as he is one of the most committed and rated better than Mikel and Olofinjana in the midfield. Interesting to see that Harry may be going for a brutal African midfied with Appiah, Obodo and Zokora if he gets his way!