Standard Liege plea to hold on to Birmingham City target Oguchi Onyewu
Jun 19 2009 by Andy Walker, Birmingham Mail
Standard’s sporting director Dominique D’ Onofrio has admitted ‘the door is open’ to the 27-year-old and there is no doubt that the club’s hope would that be that if they were to progress further then they could tempt Onyewu to stay on longer.
However, Standard’s chances are slim as they face competition not only from Blues but Fulham, Fenerbahçe and two unnamed French clubs.
Ex-Newcastle loanee Onyewu played in the USA’s 3-0 defeat to Brazil in the Confederations Cup yesterday.
The Americans are all but out of the competition in South Africa but face Egypt on Sunday in the final group fixture, after which Onyewu will make a decision on his future.
The chances of Onyewu being a Blues player come the start of next season are growing slim.
The experienced international’s head has been turned by continued interest elsewhere, in which time Blues have gone all out to secure the signature of Cardiff’s Roger Johnson.
Johnson appears to the preferred choice for Alex McLeish as he is a proven defender in the English game, albeit the Championship.
And, despite Cardiff’s continued problem with the structure of payment of Blues’ £5 million offer, Johnson looks the more likely option to be joining Scott Dann and the in-coming Giovanny Espinoza at St Andrew’s ahead of Onyewu.
