The summer transfer window is hitting the mark, and the hunt for the player to help you escape relegation, secure a top-half or reach new levels of glory has never been more intense – or expensive.
What every club wants most of all is the mysterious beast that is a 20-goal per season striker. In fact, every forward who enjoys a good campaign suddenly sees their price tag triple and quadruple, so the trick is to catch them just as they are on the verge of exploding.
The Big Man / Gabriele Maltinti / Getty Images
Well, if we told you that there is a striker in Serie B who just scored 20 goals in Italy’s top flight and has flown completely under everyone’s radar? Meet Simy. The Nigerian spearman was on fire last year, but in a team that conceded 92 goals, his 20 strikes were pretty pointless.
The 29-year-old’s achievements have finally seen him earn the credit he deserves, however, with links appearing over a departure from Crotone and a transfer to Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur.
So, what is there to know about Simy?
When it comes to his style of play, Simeon ‘Simy’ Nwankwo is as natural a finisher as they come. He is a solid hold-up player and is excellent at bringing others into the game with nice layoffs.
He is also a goal scorer for big goals. Here is a beautiful bike kick that the long forward produced, while his bread and butter is the first time ending in and around the six-yard box. He is a poacher and a mighty fin at that.
Simy’s flight threat and physical presence make him a tough forward maneuver, and every midfielder is in for a long old afternoon as he backs into them.
A Record Breaker / Clive Brunskill / Getty Images
The 2020/21 season was the pinnacle of Simy’s career so far, as he managed to hit 20 league goals in a team that was so clearly out of depth.
In doing so, he broke the record for most goals in a single season by a Nigerian player in one of the top five leagues in Europe.
Simy previously beat Blackburn Rovers star Yakubu on this trip, who finished 17th in the 2011/12 promotion in the Premier League. However, this is not the only record he has broken …
Record Record / Etsuo Hara / Getty Images
Simy’s goal in Serie A has given him the remarkable title of becoming the highest scoring Nigerian in the history of top Italian football.
The forward has scored 30 goals in Serie A, which means that he is now top of the list, after taking the crown from former Inter star Obafemi Martins on the 28th.
The majority of these 30 goals have come back in his last season back in Serie A, which shows that he has learned from his previous experience to become a better and more rounded striker.
Not a bad backup, huh?
This sudden Serie A goal drop is no desire. Instead, Simy had beaten them at Serie B level for two seasons before Crotone’s promotion to the big time, where he then continued his rich form.
The forward hit 14 in the 2018/19 campaign and 20 in 2019/20, which means that in the last three seasons he scored a total of 54 goals. That’s damn good.
That form, combined with the fact that he has even scored against the top teams in Serie A, shows that he is top-class material and does not need to spend another season to prove himself in the second division.
Take a chance, anyone!
Nigeria International striker Simy Nwankwo (28) is the current top scorer (joint) this season in Serie B with 18 goals for Crotone.
Games played: 33 Goals scored: 18 Assists: 4Hattle: 1 pic.twitter.com/AY1I5U5iKj
– Football Naija (@Football_Naija) July 14, 2020
Despite his incredible goal over the past three years, Simy has largely been overlooked at the international level. He has made four appearances since his debut in Nigeria in 2018, but he has been left out ever since.
“I will not say I care about the Super Eagles. As a Nigerian I am a fan of the national team, we are all born to be fans of the Super Eagles,” he told BBC Sport Africa.
“I share the same dream and ambition for every young football player to one day represent the country. But it is not in my hands, it is not something I can control.”
It’s probably time for a recall.
