The record-breaking Nigerian outscoring Messi, Ronaldo & Salah

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
• 4 min read

Nigerian journeyman Simy is emerging as one of the most enticing options in the summer transfer market following a stunning season for Serie A minnows Crotone.

Newly-promoted Crotone are rock-bottom of Serie A and are almost certain to be relegated straight back down to Serie B, as they are 13 points from safety with only five games remaining.

However, their Nigerian attacker Simeon Nwankwo, better-known as Simy, certainly won’t be joining them in Italy’s second-flight after a stunning personal season.

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Simy: Crotone statistics in 2020/21

Standing at 6ft 6in, the giant marksman has scored 19 goals this season – placing him third in the Capocannoniere race behind only Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku.

On Saturday, he scored two more goals during Crotone’s 4-3 win over Parma.

This double means he has equalled Obafemi Martins as the best Nigerian goalscorer in Serie A history.

It also means that he is the highest scorer in a season this century in one of Europe’s big five leagues.

Incredibly, since March, he has scored more goals than any player in these top five leagues of Serie A, La Liga, the Premier League, Ligue 1 or the Bundesliga.

He has an incredible 12 strikes in his last nine Serie A matches.

Simy joined Crotone in 2016 and has since scored 65 goals in 154 appearances for the club.

Prior to that he scored 31 goals during five years in Portuguese football, three of them spent in the second division.

When does Simy’s contract expire?

Set to turn 29 next month, the four-cap Nigeria international is emerging as one of the most interesting options in the summer transfer market.

The striker’s contract at Crotone expires in 2022, meaning he will be available for a cut-price fee.

Crotone coach Serse Cosmi has confirmed that Simy will leave at the end of the season for a big club.

Earning a salary of less than €1 million a year, he will have numerous clubs both in Italy and abroad looking at him.

Given his size, aerial ability and physical qualities, Simy is a handful for defenders.

He is not the most technically-gifted player, but he holds up the ball well and is a constant nuisance for defenders.

Watch out for his name this summer.