Hammarby IF sporting director reacts to reports linking Babatunde Akomolede with move to capital club

Hammarby IF sporting director Mikael Hjelmberg has refused to deny or confirm reports linking Sporting Lagos defender Babatunde Akomolede with a transfer to the Stockholm based outfit, allnigeriasoccer.com reports. 

Swedish transfer market website Fotbolltransfers has reported that Allsvenskan club Hammarby IF and  Norwegian Eliteserien outfit Tromsø IL are showing interest in Akomolede. 

The Nigerian teenager put himself in the shop window during the recently concluded Gothia Cup, helping Sporting Lagos to win the B17E category with a string of brilliant performances. 

He became famous for his long throw-ins, which were an offensive weapon for Sporting Lagos.

Akomolede was named the Most Valuable Player of the final, after his goal from outside the penalty area helped Sporting Lagos beat FC Tokyo 4-0 at Gamla Ullevi.

Mikael Hjelmberg is well-versed on young and promising African players, having brokered the deal that brought former Nigeria U17 international Akinkunmi Amoo to Hammarby IF in 2020, after extensively scouting the winger. 

When asked to confirm reports linking Akomolede with a move to Hammarby IF, Hjelmberg told allnigeriasoccer.com on Tuesday: "He is a good player with lot of potential". 

Hjelmberg was cautious not to disclose whether the player was on Hammarby's radar and did not confirm if the defender would undergo trials with the capital club

Mikael, who has visited Nigeria in the past on scouting duties, was chief scout at Hammarby before he was appointed sporting director when Jesper Jansson left in 2023. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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