Highly-rated Nigerian striker David Okereke has been linked with a transfer to either Wolverhampton Wanderers or Crystal Palace on deadline day.

His minders have argued that a proposed move to the English Premier League will no go through in this window as he is not in the possession of an Italian passport and has no caps for Nigeria's senior national team.

''David Okereke is staying at Spezia because it will be difficult to get a work permit to play in the Premier League,'' said Ben Itorho of Pro-Onesports Intermediaries to allnigeriasoccer.com.

''Inter Milan, Lazio, Genoa, Udinese, Parma and Fiorentina are monitoring his progress in Italy. Standard Liege and Anderlecht have shown strong interest as well as the English clubs.

''Okereke is quick, pragmatic, skillful and can be likened to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. He makes difficult goals look simple. ''

This season, Okereke has had a hand in 14 goals (6 goals and 8 assists) in 16 appearances in the Italian second-tier.

Okereke's agent, Patrick Bastianelli who works with Itorho, previously handled the affairs of former Premier League strikers Odion Ighalo, Obafemi Martins and Victor Obinna.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel