Two Teams Interested In Onyewu

American defender Oguchi Onyewu is turning into a hot property in Europe as a new team has thrown their hat in the ring for his services come January.

Dec 2, 2008 12:58:16 PM

More On :  Marseille, Mönchengladbach, Standard, Oguchi Onyewu

American defender Oguchi Onyewu will likely be moving away from Standard Liege in January. The Clemson University product is turning into a hot property. Clubs in two of Europe's biggest leagues are showing interest.

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A Ligue 1 (the French top division) club, Olympique Marseille has shown great interest in the American center-back. Marseille is reportedly offering around $6.5 million U.S. dollars. Argentine defender Renato Ceville would also head to Liege as part of the deal.

Marseilli's offer may be too good for Liege to pass up. Onyewu will be out of contract at the end of the season and has shown little interest in staying in Belgium long-term. But now a German club has made another offer for the big American.

According to Belgiumsoccer.be, Borussia Monchengladbach has offered Liege close to $4 million for Onyewu.

The Bundesliga club has already been rejected by one Jupiler (Belgium's top division) side. M'Gladbach made an attempt to obtain RC Genk 'keeper Logan Bailly, but the offer was deemed too low. Now the Germans have turned their eyes to Onyewu in an attempt to bolster their defense. If sold to M'Gladbach, Onyewu would join fellow American Michael Bradley on the squad.

Both Marseille and Monchengladbach have ties to Belgium. Marseille manager Eric Gerets is a former Belgian defender who appeared 318 times for Standard. M'gladbach already have Filip Daems, a Belgian defender who began his career with K Lierse S.K.

The connections that the teams have to the Belgian league could play into Onyewu’s favor. Each club will likely hold the quality of competition in Belgium in higher regard than others who might still view the Jupiler as a second-tier league.

Onyewu has been rock-solid on the Standard back line. The 26-year-old will try to continue his fine form Wednesday when Liege plays host to Sampdoria in UEFA Cup action.

--Allen Ramsey, Goal.com

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