Verona leapfrog Lecce in race for Hearts defender of Nigerian descent

Italian Serie A side Hellas Verona has stolen a march on Lecce in the pursuit of Hearts right-back Daniel Oyegoke. 

The 22-year-old defender, who is of Nigerian descent, has been the subject of intense interest from several Italian clubs during the January transfer window.

According to reports from Sky Italia, Verona are staging a hijack as they are now closing in on a deal for Oyegoke, leaving Lecce in the dust. 

The latter had been leading the chase for the young defender, who had been identified as a replacement for Patrick Dorgu. 

However, it appears that Verona's late intervention has paid off, and they are now poised to secure Oyegoke's signature.

Hearts boss Neil Critchley had revealed earlier that Oyegoke was on the verge of departing the club, and it seems that Verona are in pole position the race for his services. 

Oyegoke had been a key player for Hearts this season, making 26 appearances for the Edinburgh club.

The defender's journey to this point has been an interesting one. Born in 2003, Oyegoke began his career at Arsenal before joining Brentford in 2021. 

He spent time on loan at Milton Keynes Dons and Bradford City, making 37 appearances in the Football League.

Oyegoke's impressive performances have also earned him recognition at the international level. 

He was part of the England team that won the European U19 Championship in 2022 and has also represented the Young Lions at U16, U17, U18, and U20 levels.

Ejim Kaycee

Photo Credit: heartsfc.co.uk

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