Jerry Mbakogu, remember him? The next ‘Didier Drogba’ was linked repeatedly with Leeds United in a big-money move over the last 18 months.
Leeds are said to have made an offer worth around £4.5million to sign the 26-year-old powerhouse from Carpi. But Carpi rejected the bid in January 2018, despite the player’s contract in doubt.
The Whites came back in the summer to sign the Nigerian forward, but a move failed to materialise. He was released in August by Carpi, even though the club had rejected £4.5million months earlier.
Mbakogu has been without a club since. But he has finally found a new home this January, in the form of Serie B outfit and former side Calcio Padova – as confirmed by the club’s website.
The striker played for Padova before moving to Carpi in 2014, and has now returned to the side who sit rock bottom of Italy’s second tier.
Leeds, meanwhile, sit at the top of the Championship. Kemar Roofe is on fire, Patrick Bamford set to return soon and Tyler Roberts is showing glimpses of class. Marcelo Bielsa’s men can safely say they got away with one.