According to Spanish newspaper based in Madrid, La Razon, Europa League winners Villarreal are currently in pole position ahead of Manchester City and Sevilla to sign former Nigeria U23 international Umar Sadiq.

At fifteen million euros, Sadiq is the most valuable player in Spain's LaLiga 2, according to the latest update by Transfermarkt though he has a release clause of €60m.

Almeria would be willing to negotiate with clubs who offer at lease half of the player's release clause.

The list of clubs interested in signing the Nigerian goal poacher has been increasing since Almeria failed to secure promotion to La Liga via the playoffs.

Spanish sports daily AS reported this week that Manchester City are preparing a bid for Sadiq and their plan is to loan him out to newly-promoted French Ligue 1 team ESTAC Troyes if they win the race for his signature.

Villarreal have identified the Almeria number 9 as their prime target to bolster their options in attack and will turn their attention to their former player Cedric Bakambu if they fail to strike a deal with the Andalusian outfit.

Getafe, Valencia, Spartak Moscow and Eintracht Frankurt are the other teams credited with an interest in Sadiq who tallied 28 goals in 56 matches last season.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel