Frank and Frank celebrate

While Onyeka and Lampard were still talking, a big brother by way of him being a celebrated footballer and 1997 Africa Footballer of the Year, Victor Ikpeba, thought differently. Ikpeba argued and rightly so, that it was unthinkable for a full-fledged Nigeria international to dump the Premier League in England for a lower cadre Championships team on the altar of his failure to grab a first team shirt weekly.

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Ikpeba posited further with the hindsight of what he did when he played some of the best football for AS Monaco in the French Ligue Un, that Onyeka should stay put at Brentford to fight for first team jersey in a World Cup year, where managers prefer the better exposed players than otherwise. Good argument, Ikpeba. What Ikpeba didn't consider in his modesty was that he was a dynamite to behold in his playing days in Europe. Ikpeba was awesome and held fans spell bound whilst he was playing, culminating in the sobriquet attached to his name, the Prince of Monaco.

The moniker, the Prince of Monaco stood him out. This isn't to say Onyeka is a bad player. No. Onyeka as a defensive midfielder does the dirty jobs of marking the tough strikers among the other roles assigned to him by the manager. What the scenario simply means is that Onyeka is a technical player whose qualities are best recognised and appreciated by coaches, not mere mortal who watch him as spectators of the beautiful game.

Long story short. Frank Onyeka took the proverbial plunge with Frank Lampard, trusting him to the promises made to him, culminating in the Frank and Frank celebrations in today's column.

For both men who incidentally are midfielders, it is mission accomplished with Coventry winning the English Championship with two matches to spare. It is time for stock- taking, where answers must be proffered for the hard questions going forward in their different careers, which found a melting point at Coventry City.

Would Coventry keep faith with Onyeka by making his contract permanent? Or would they allow Onyeka walk away back to Brentford to resume duties with another round of cameo appearances? Does Coventry's management have the cash to pay for Onyeka's full transfer in the event of Brentford swallowing their pride by asking the Nigerian to return base? Or would Onyeka remain with Coventry by calling Brentford's bluff? Indeed, much of critical questions must be answered by Onyeka, whose future in the game is central to all the answers raised in this column.

One must commend Ikepba for reiterating on the points he raised while frowning at the decision to play in the lower rung league - the English Championships. Ikpeba, speaking on his Monday night football programme opined that by sending Onyeka on loan in January, Brentford's management inadvertently told him that his services were no longer required in the team. He wasn't averse to Onyeka remaining at Coventry. After all, both teams would play in the elite class, the English Premier League next season.

Nothing excites this writer than seeing many Nigerians displace foreigners in their different positions of play during matches. My heart bleeds also whenever some of our players warm the bench during games or come to the stadium in mufti and sit at the stands watching others sweat their socks wet to grab the points they need to remain in their different positions.

What would be Onyeka's decision if Lampard decides to return to London for the Chelsea job? Would he be ready to accompany the former England international to the Blues? Or would Lampard leave the Nigerian in the lurch since he wouldn't have the full powers to go to Chelsea with any Coventry City players?

Already, Coventry City Chairman, Dough King told international media that he COULDN'T BE THE rumoured Lampard move to Chelsea. Where does this leave Onyeka for the next season? Time will tell.

Who will pay Osimhen's salaries?

Prior to the commencement of the 2025 European season, not a few people thought Victor Osimhen would play in one of the big European countries - England, France, Italy, Germany e.t.c. The media feasted with stories of Osimhen's moves with stupendous figures attached to what the Nigerian would be paid to join. The figures were vulgar but none happened, with Osimhen going to play in Turkey with Galatasaray FC.

With the 2025/2026 season winding down gradually, transfer speculations in Europe have started by listing Osimhen among names as likely replacement for Lewandoski in Barcelona and Salah at Liverpool.

On Wednesday, the internet was awash with the story titled Real Madrid to battle Barcelona for Osimhen for humongous figures. But there is also one story of Barcelona's management being unable to pay Osimhen's monthly wages.

Many pundits rated Osimhen highly to get better deals outside Turkey. Would such a club be able to afford to splash between $100 million and $200 million on the Nigerian? Or would Osimhen continue with his transfer tradition of playing for the highest bidder in the transfer tussles? Or would Osimhen take a pay cut and join the biggest club in Europe?