Nigerian-eligible youngsters Lukas Heavens and Endurance Alade are close to securing the first professional contracts of their careers with both players set for upcoming trials at European clubs, Footy-Africa can exclusively confirm.
Sources close to both players told Footy-Africa that they recently took part in a private training session last weekend, where they worked with former Dutch striker Collin van der Gijp, as they stepped up preparations ahead of their respective trials.
For Heavens, the next few weeks could prove decisive in shaping the path of his career. The highly-rated youngster has already attracted interest from several clubs across Europe since leaving the Borussia Dortmund academy, with the likes of Glacis United, Volendam, Twente and English side Millwall all monitoring his development.
The 17-year-old is expected to train with Dutch Eredivisie club Fortuna Sittard in the coming days and is also attracting interest from De Graafschap, while a final decision on his future is likely to be made after the end of his trial period. A successful spell could see Heavens land his first senior professional contract, which could help set him up for a bigger move in the future.
Endurance Alade targets move to top league and names Arsenal’s Timber as influence
Meanwhile, Endurance Alade, who has previously expressed his ambition to represent the Super Eagles, was also present at the training session. The 21-year-old has impressed with Vitesse’s U-21 side and has also been given opportunities to train with the club’s senior team.
Endurance has also attracted interest from clubs in the Belgian second division, and his performances have caught the attention of several scouts, who are hoping to secure a trial ahead of the summer.
With just a few months until the summer transfer window, successful trials for both players could open the door to long-term contracts with European clubs, which would mark a major step in their professional careers.
