Ademola Lookman opts for England despite Nigeria interest

Everton youngster Ademola Lookman will choose to play for England moving forward, reports the Daily Mail.

The 21-year-old is though to have held “face-to-face talks” with Three Lions U21s boss Aidy Boothroyd with regards to his future, with rumours linking him with representing Nigeria instead.

Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr had claimed that Lookman “wanted to change his mind so he can play for us as he will add something to our team”, but his efforts appear to be fruitless.

Speaking ahead of the U21s’ friendly meeting with Denmark on Tuesday, Boothroyd spoke about Lookman’s situation:

“Every time I see him I have a little joke with him about it. I say: “Why would you want to leave us?””

© Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Sport England U21 v Andorra U21 – 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifier

“But he’s very focused on England – that’s what he tells me. He says he wants to play international football for England.”

“He’s had a tough time of it, but he’s been better recently He got himself into a state over summer when he didn’t know where he would be playing or if he would be moving or not.”

“Now he has just got his head around the fact that wherever it is he is playing, he has to play well. He has told himself “I just have to focus on me” which is right.”

The “tough time” that Boothroyd mentions refers to Lookman having his heart set on a move to RB Leipzig in the summer, which failed to materialise.

Regular football has also been hard to come by at Everton, although he has started to play a more prominent role in recent weeks.

There is no doubting that Lookman can be a major asset for both club and country moving forward.

MSN