Heerenveen Star Kenneth Otigba Reacts To Middlesbrough,Derby County Link

SC Heerenveen central defender Kenneth Otigba has played down speculation linking him with a possible move to Middlesbrough and Derby County in the summer transfer market.

The Boro and The Rams have a good chance to gain promotion to the top-flight at the end of the season and they could try to tempt Otigba with the lure of Premier League football, but the center half has revealed that he has not been directly approached by the two Championship teams.

“I have had no contact with the teams, neither SC Heerenveen.  I heard the news from an agent, and he said to me that there is some interest,” said Otigba to allnigeriasoccer.com.

“I was happy of course to hear this, but clubs have a lot of interests in players, so it’s not concrete yet.”

The former Hungary youth-teamer used this opportunity to pledge his allegiance to SC Heerenveen, adding that he could still earn a move to a more glamorous league in future if he keeps working hard.

The 23-year-old said : “At this moment I am concentrating on SC Heerenveen. I know if I do my job well, one day I will get a chance to make a step forward. But I know the only thing I have to do is to work hard.”

Nicknamed The Beast, Otigba, who has a valid contract with De Superfriezen until 2018, turned down a move to Liverpool and Norwich City before his shift to Holland.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel