As numerous European clubs converge for pre-season programmes and activities ahead of the 2025/26 football campaign, several Eagles Stars are hoping to encounter better fortunes than last term. PUNCH Sports Extra’s PEDRO PETER highlights the players who are hoping for a change in fortunes ahead of the new campaign, with an eye also on the 2026 World Cup

Moses Simon

Fresh off a €7m summer transfer move from Nantes to newly-promoted Paris FC, Moses Simon will be expected to carry on his good form from his previous team to his new employers as they prepare to compete in the French Ligue 1 for the first time in 46 years.

The 29-year-old Nigeria international had been a mainstay in the Nantes squad since his arrival in 2020, going on to score a total of 37 goals and providing a further 42 assists in 201 appearances for the Canaries. He finished the 2024/25 campaign with eight goals and 10 assists in the French top-flight, which stirred interest from several clubs, with Paris FC winning the race after reaching an agreement on a three-year deal.

The experience of the former Genk winger will be crucial as Paris FC will be seeking to avoid the drop back to Ligue 2 next season, while aiming to finish high on the standings and also claim a domestic trophy.

Samuel Chukwueze

The former Villarreal forward has experienced mixed fortunes since his arrival at the San Siro outfit two years ago. The 26-year-old has often failed to live up to his huge potential, with the Rosonerri now set to part ways with the Nigerian.

The winger has been put on sale by the club as they source much-needed funds to facilitate a major squad rebuild. Italian media outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Chukwueze is one of several prominent names expected to depart Lombardy ahead of a major overhaul, with Milan willing to listen to offers for the winger.

The decision to offload Chukwueze stems from Milan’s disappointing 2024/25 campaign, in which they finished eighth on the Serie A table and missed out on continental football for next season. They also lost the Coppa Italia final to Bologna in one of the embarrassing points for the club last term.

Chukwueze, who has already resumed pre-season training under new gaffer Max Allegri, featured in 26 league appearances last season, starting only nine times and contributing three goals plus two assists. A move away from Lombardy could revive his fledgling career and put him in the mix for World Cup contention, should the Super Eagles qualify. If a summer move fails to materialise, he may be resigned to stay and fight for a starting shirt under Allegri, who is said in some circles not to fancy the Nigerian.

Spanish La Liga outfit Real Betis have been rumoured to be interested in his services, though it is left to be seen whether they will pay his valuation, as put on him by the club.

Taiwo Awoniyi

The erstwhile Union Berlin of Germany frontman endured a frustrating 2024/25 season for Premier League outfit Nottingham Forest, as he could only manage two goals in 32 appearances in all competitions for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.

The 27-year-old was mostly used as a substitute for the majority of the campaign, coming from the bench 24 times as Chris Wood was preferred to lead the attack lines for the Tricky Trees. His season turned from bad to worse when he was sidelined after suffering a ruptured intestine in a Premier League fixture, which required him to be medically induced into a coma and undergo a two-stage surgical procedure.

Awoniyi has since made a remarkable recovery and has returned to pre-season activities. He will be hoping to have a much bigger impact for the team both in the league and when they feature in European continental competition for the first time in over four decades.

Kelechi Iheanacho

The former U-17 starlet had a dreadful 2024/25 campaign to forget both in the colours of parent club Sevilla in La Liga and in the English Championship for Middlesbrough.

The 28-year-old began the campaign with Sevilla, but his lack of game time and match fitness restricted him to just nine La Liga games and two appearances in the Spanish Copa del Rey, though he scored on three occasions in the cup competition. Ultimately, he was farmed out on loan to Middlesbrough in England, where he made 15 appearances, scoring just one goal and providing two assists.

Now back at Sevilla for pre-season, Iheanacho has been told by the club’s hierarchy that he may not feature prominently in the plans of newly-appointed boss Matías Almeyda, with reports from The Express linking him with a transfer to Mexican club Pumas UNAM.

Bright Osayi-Samuel

The defender who just completed a move to English second-tier side Birmingham City will be saddled with the task of preventing opposition attackers from breaching the net.

During the 2024/25 season, the 27-year-old Nigerian featured prominently for Turkish Super Lig giants Fenerbahce. He made a total of 39 appearances across all competitions and registered two assists as Jose Mourinho’s side finished runners-up in the top-flight.

Osayi-Samuel’s experience will be vital for Birmingham in their quest to secure promotion to the Premier League for the 2026/27 season.

Zaidu Sanusi

The left-back has been on the fringes of the national team in recent times, owing to injury and a lack of sufficient game time for his Portuguese Primeira Liga outfit FC Porto.

The Dragons took part in the maiden edition of the revamped FIFA Club World Cup in the United States this summer, with Sanusi not being involved in a single minute of action as he was left on the bench. Despite having two years left on his existing contract, Zaidu is one of several players who have shown the exit door by new coach Martin Anselmi, as the club intends to offload him as soon as possible and recoup funds for summer reinforcements.

Zaidu, who has battled the better part of the last 18 months due to a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury, has received little interest from clubs about a potential summer transfer. If a move does come through, he will seek to use the opportunity to relaunch his career and prove doubters wrong.

Cyriel Dessers

The former Feyenoord ace ended the 2024/25 campaign as top scorer in the Scottish Premier Football League, as he found the back of the net 18 times for Glasgow Rangers.

Despite his output for the Gers, his immediate future seems to be away from Ibrox as he is set for a summer exit. However, a planned move to Greek Super League outfit AEK Athens have stalled in recent weeks, although personal terms have been agreed upon.

Rangers’ financial demands and their lack of a replacement have kept the deal in the freezer, with the runners-up holding firm until they secure a deal for Israeli striker Dor Turgeman from Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Dessers, who has since returned for pre-season, is yet to taste action in tune-up friendlies ahead of the new campaign as new manager Russell Martin has kept him away from the fray. Wherever the 30-year-old finds himself next season, he will be targeting a great performance for the season. (Sunday PUNCH)