Afriyie Barnieh reportedly rejects Hearts of Oak contract extension and why ES Tunis move failed
Afriyie Barnieh has reportedly rejected contract extension at Hearts of Oak with the player’s contract set to expire sooner than later. Barnieh joined Hearts of Oak on 3-year deal in 2019 following a battle with Asante Kotoko for the player’s signature as Hearts won the race.
Hearts are going into serial changes after parting company with former boss Samuel Boadu who won them the FA Cup twice consecutively.
The club have appointed David Ocloo as the assistant manager who is now acting as the interim boss ahead of Caf Confederation Cup games against AS Real Bamako with the first leg upcoming Saturday evening.
Hearts meanwhile are in talks with a couple of their players for contract renewal including Daniel Afriyie Barnieh. Barnieh has been sensational since joining Hearts of Oak in 2019. He has assisted Ghana U-20 to win the WAFU Zone B Championship, African Youth Championship, and helping Hearts of Oak to lift the Ghana Premier League and two MTN FA Cup titles.
The Ghanaian side take on Real Bamako in the Caf Confederation Cup with Afriyie Barnieh being part of the traveling squad, expected to start in tomorrow’s clash. The attacker has reportedly rejected new contract extension at Hearts of Oak amid leaving the club at the end of the season.
The 21-year old runs out of Hearts contract in December.
Hearts has reportedly offered Barnieh a 2-year contract extension but the Ghanaian International has rejected to stay with the club. Barnieh has been linked with a move to many top clubs outside Ghana with Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates linked and a move to the French league likely.
Barnieh is expected to be part of the Black Stars squad to Qatar FIFA World Cup.
Barnieh previously linked with Esperance de Tunis
As we reported earlier, Esperance de Tunis may have a breakthrough in move for Ghanaian International Afriyie Barnieh according to our same source that disclosed USM Alger and Orlando Pirates attempts to lure Kwame Opoku and Kwame Peprah respectively.
The Futball Surgery source revealed that USM Alger will launch a bid to land Black Stars forward Kwame Opoku from Asante Kotoko which came to pass before revealing a couple of months later that Orlando Pirates will secure the signature of Twelve goal Ghana Premier League striker.
Ghana Premier League outfit King Faisal have finally confirmed Peprah’s move today Thursday while more transfer news exit not only in Ghana.
The source is on it again claiming that Esperance Sportive de Tunis may have a breakthrough to complete the signing of Afriyie Barnieh in the course of the Caf Champions League campaign.
With the Ghana Premier League becoming a household name in transfers for top African clubs in recent times, Esperance have decided to have share of business in the Ghanaian top flight.
The Tunisian side have bolstered their squad ahead of the 2021-2022 season as most of transfers were geared towards winning the African Champions League. While planning for their summer transfer business, Esperance could not overlooked the Ghana Premier League that it’s stars are on huge demand in Africa and Europe.
They have already announced a deal for Percious Boah from Dreams FC as the Ghanaian’s exploit in the African Youth Championship in Mauritania was a major factor for the Esperance move.
At the beginning of the season, Algerian outfit ES Setif first attempted and succeeded with a lucrative deal for Emmanuel Lomotey from Wafa before USM Alger prized way Kwame Opoku from Asante Kotoko in a bumper deal at end of the Ghana Premier League first round.
At the end of the season, the chase for Ghana Premier League stars is expected to increase with Egyptian side Al Masry closing in a deal for Hearts of Oak and Kotoko target Imoro Salifu whilst a deal has been announced for King Faisal forward Kwame Peprah.
Besides, Esperance have signed Ghana U-20 International Boah and are bound to add captain of the group Afriyie Barnieh who had a terrific season with Hearts of Oak last season. He scored 6 Ghana Premier League goals and 5 times in the FA Cup as top scorer of the domestic cup.
Having joined the Ghana Premier League champions in beginning of 2019-2020 season, Barnieh fell behind Kofi Kodzi in the one top system under spat of managers.
However, the forward has enjoyed unprecedented form in career in 2020-2021 season after lifting the Wafu Zone B and African Youth Championships for Ghana while playing major part in Hearts’ double triumph- the Ghana Premier League and FA Cup trophies. He scored all Ghana’s two goals against Uganda in the African Youth Championship final in March.
It’s understood that Esperance has been scouting Afriyie Barnieh since his involvement in the Wafu Championship in Togo and the Tunisia side are way impressed so far.
Despite their story of having eyes on the Ghanaian International growing in the past one week, Esperance are yet to make any official contacts.
However, the former Caf Champions League winners are poised to make the next bold decision by making official contacts with Hearts of Oak in attempt to bring Barnieh to Stade Olympique Redes.
With initial reports claiming that the Tunisians are ready to submit $400,000 offer and while those reports are true, Esperance are confident of securing a deal for Barnieh.
Our source has revealed Esperance’s mechanism for getting the deal done and dusted that may come after the commencement of this season’s Caf Champions League. Hearts of Oak are unwilling to cash in on Barnieh to bolster their African campaign.
The Tunisian Premier League winners are much aware of that and have decided to tested the waters with initial $400,000 waiting upon Hearts’ reaction. Meanwhile, when the capital’s side are interested in the offer, is a good to go deal for Esperance where they will continue to negotiate.
However, should Hearts still look reluctant on the deal, Esperance may increase their offer when Caf opens the second window for registering new players into continental competitions which would tempt the Ghanaian side to letting the 20-year old leave for Stade Olympique Redes.
Hearts may be forced to reinvest in Barnieh’s money into new signings in Caf second transfer window or reopening of the Ghanaian transfer period.
Barnieh-ES Tunis failed move
Esperance de Tunis could have had a breakthrough in move for Ghanaian International Afriyie Barnieh in the second transfer window in Africa.
However, Hearts’ poor campaign in continental football has reportedly scooped the fruitful deal that could have earned them huge sum of money.
Sources told Futball Surgery that Esperance Sportive de Tunis may have a breakthrough to complete the signing of Afriyie Barnieh in the course of the Caf Champions League.
With the Ghana Premier League becoming a household name for many African clubs in recent years, ES Tunis decided to have share of business in the Ghanaian top flight.
The Tunisian side bolstered their squad for the 2021-2022 season as transfers were geared towards winning the African Champions League this season.
And chase for the competition is still on course after going unbeaten, with only a goal conceded in the group phase of the African Champion League.
Esperance lead Group C with 11 points plus 9 goals where they have already qualified to quarter-finals even if they lose their last game against second place CR Belouizdad in Saturday evening.
When making transfer moves at start of the season, ES Tunis could not overlooked the Ghana Premier League that it’s stars have become demanded in Egypt, South Africa, Algeria, Sudan and Tunisia. They announced a 4-yera deal for Dreams FC star Precious Boah at beginning of the season before loaning him to CS Hammam-Lif in January.
They were also interested with a move for Hearts of Oak attacker Afriyie Barnieh in January- around the same period the Caf Champions League may enter into group stage and second registration of players opened.
But an Esperance move for Barnieh was largely dependent on how far Hearts of Oak go in their African campaign.
With the Ghana Premier League reigning champions suffering early exit from the Caf Champions League and Confederation Cup- which means Hearts failed to make cut for group stage football, Esperance have decided to stop a deal on Barnieh.
That’s is due to club’s new policy which doesn’t recognizes a foreign player outside group stage of Caf inter club football. The Tunisian side are understood to sign a player from outside (Tunisia) who have at least Caf Confederation Cup and Champions League group stage experience.
The Tunisia side initially were confident Hearts of Oak will reach money zone of this season’s African competitions that will aid in drawing the Phobians to the negotiation table for Afriyie Barnieh.
The Esperance new policy also outlines that a foreign target must play in the senior national team or have a rich youth experience with Barnieh already meeting this criteria after guiding Ghana’s U20 to first position in the 2021 African Youth Championship in Mauritania.
While this should have been enough grounds for Esperance to make their interest official after they were ready to submit undisclosed huge sum of money bid in January, Hearts’ exit from Africa has hampered the deal particularly heading into the end of the season.
Having joined Hearts at the beginning of 2019-2020 season, Barnieh completely fell behind Kofi Kodzi in the pecking order under a one-top system.
He has fought off competitions to establish himself as one of the best aces in the current Hearts of Oak setup.
The forward enjoyed unprecedented form in career in the 2020-2021 season after lifting the Wafu Zone B and African Youth Championships for Ghana. Barnieh scored 6 Ghana Premier League goals and 5 times in the FA Cup to emerge top scorer of the domestic cup helping Hearts of Oak to lift the title.
He scored all Ghana’s two goals against Uganda in the African Youth Championship final in March 2021.
Esperance began their interest in the Ghanaian International during the Wafu Championship in Togo in 2020 and the Tunisia side were way impressed.
It’s unclear whether the Tunisian outfit will make a move at the beginning of next season.
