National men’s team, Harambee Stars defender Erick ‘Marcelo’ Otieno, 27, is set to join Raków Częstochowa in Poland from AIK, according to several reports.According to Swedish publications, the left-back’s move to Poland is close to being completed. Details remain between the parties but the clubs could complete the transfer within the next few days if all goes according to plan.Njuguna all the more motivated after bagging elusive goalMarcelo is in the last year of his contract at AIK having joined in January 2020. His contract was set to expire on 21 December 2024.Rumours for his transfer started last year with reports indicating the hunt for a new club for the Kenyan International intensified around November. At the time, several foreign clubs had submitted proposals and announced that they wanted to go for the left-back. Among others, there were clubs in Spain and France.The latest development has sources stating a few details are left to be sorted out, including a medical before a deal is finalized. The parties hope to resolve everything within a couple of days. If everything falls into place, the Kenyan can be presented soon.Harambee Stars’ left-back, Eric Ouma Otieno, known as Marcelo, has garnered attention from prominent European clubs.Among them are Rubin Kazan from Russia, Wolfsburg, Atalanta in Italy, Celtic in Scotland, and English clubs Crystal Palace and Leicester, all expressing interest… pic.twitter.com/TSYYE6079k— New Sheriff⚓ (@NewsheriffUtd) December 23, 2023 AIK and Rakow are said to have agreed on a price tag of around SEK 9-10 million, (more than Ksh138 million) where 30 percent of the transfer sum goes to Vasalunds IF, which had the right to a resale clause.AIK’s sporting director Thomas Berntsen has been clear that the left back is expected to be sold this winter, having played 99 games for AIK so far. In an interview with Sportbladet he commented on a possible Otieno transfer:“It is leaning towards it. It’s a bit boring, but at the same time it’s fun. He deserved it and maybe should have gone a couple of years ago. As it stands now, we get a good price for him and he gets to secure the future for himself and his family. It hurts the heart purely sportingly, but at the same time, we have to see that perspective as well and treat him to it,” Berntsen said.##NAJAVA_MECA_7788978##Axel ‘Acke’ Björnström is set to replace the Kenyan. “He is a slightly different type of player. He has a slightly easier relationship with fellow players and has a slightly better passing and crossing foot. Erick has been very good, but we believe that “Acke” can make top performances for us if we trust him. But he will also face tough competition,” the director is quoted to have said during the interview.
