German side Freiburg begin talks to sign Etouga Mbella from Asante Kotoko
Bundesliga side Freiburg have reportedly open talks to sign Asante Kotoko forward Franck Thierry Etouga Mbella as the German side continues summer transfer business.
Freiburg have already completed the signing of Matthias Ginter, Maximilian Breunig, Michael Gregoritsch, Patrick Leinhard, Julian Stark all for free and Daniel-Kofi Kyereh in 4.5million Euros deal from FC St. Pauli.
Freiburg will not rest in the transfer market with over a month to its shut down and have been linked in a latest move for Asante Kotoko attacker Etouga Mbella.
The Cameroonian International completed a move from local side AS Fortuna de Mfou to Kotoko last season and quickly adopted to life at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
The 20-year old walked into the starting line-up along the line after slow start and completed the season a ‘hero’ after scoring 21 league goals to break the club’s top scorer record off Erick Bekoe who struck 18 times in the Ghanaian top flight in the 2007-2008 season. Mbella’s goals undoubtedly helped Kotoko win first league title since 2014.
Mbella lost out on the Ghana Premier League goal-king in last round of matches after Ash Gold forward Yaw Annor scored two goals against Bibiani Gold Stars to overtake the Cameroonian for the prestigious award.
Despite the setback, the attacker has been linked with a move to Europe all summer with the likes of St. Etienne, Galatasaray, Metz, AS Roma, Atletico Madrid and Udinese reportedly to have expressed interest in the former AS Fortuna forward.
These clubs were thought to face competition from African sides Al Ahly, Kaizer Chiefs and Young Africans for the player’s signature. Since last week, Italian side Udinese were understood closing in on a deal for Mbella after agreeing deal with Kotoko but the deal has collapsed.
And now Freiburg appears the front-runner for the 20-year old as the Italian side have opened negotiations with Kotoko, claimed a report in GhanaWeb.
The two clubs have been into each other in attempt to agree a deal for Mbella weeks now with the center forward arriving in Ghana days ago to complete the deal.
Reports have claimed that former Asante Kotoko, Kaizer Chiefs and German International coach Ernst Middendorp is acting as the middle man to see the deal is done.
Ernst Middendorp is understood a possible candidate to be named Kotoko new head coach, a replacement for fired Dr. Prosper Prosper Narteh Ogum. As Mbella is likely to leave, Kotoko have land replacements in deals for compatriot Alain Thierry Akono Akono and Ugandan International Steven Mukwala.
