Slavia Prague manager Jindřich Trpisovsky has refused to rule out a summer exit for newly-capped Nigeria international Igoh Ogbu despite the centre-back signing a contract extension just days before his Super Eagles debut in London.
The Red and Whites rewarded Ogbu with a new deal until December 31, 2027, following his outstanding performances since joining the club from Lillestrom.
Before signing a contract extension, multiple clubs in France’s Ligue 1 and Turkish champions Galatasaray were exploring ways to sign the former Flying Eagles star. Despite Slavia Prague tying him to a new deal, they are aware of the realities of the transfer market, with Trpisovsky admitting that Ogbu’s future remains uncertain.
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Responding to a question about the possibility of Ogbu leaving Slavia Prague, the 49-year-old offered a theoretical scenario to illustrate how quickly things could change in the transfer market.
“Igoh Ogbu extended his contract, which was extremely important for us,” Trpišovský said on the TIKI-TAKA show in May. “He wants to stay here, he wants to play in the Champions League, but in August it could happen that Nottingham or Newcastle call and say they need a defender. And he’ll leave anyway.”
Slavia Prague are set to return to the UEFA Champions League after clinching the Czech league title with four matches to spare.
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Ogbu brings valuable European experience to the table, having featured 19 times in continental competitions—10 in the UEFA Europa League, four in Champions League qualifiers, and five in Conference League and Europa League qualifying matches.
Slavia Prague defender Igoh Ogbu in action (Photo credit: Getty Images)
The 21-year-old centre-back has been impressive for Slavia Prague, and his performances have caught the attention of several top clubs. If Ogbu were to leave Slavia Prague, it would be a significant loss for the club, but they may not be able to hold onto him if the right offer comes in.
The transfer window remains open and Ogbu’s future will be closely monitored. Will he stay at Slavia Prague and help the club achieve success in the Champions League, or will he make a move to a bigger club? Only time will tell.
Ogbu’s agent will likely play a crucial role in determining his future, and it will be interesting to see if any big clubs come in for him this summer. For now, Ogbu will focus on helping Slavia Prague win the Czech league title and making a strong impression in the Champions League.
