Badu ready to leave Udinese

Ghana midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang Badu has fueled talks of wanting a move away from the Serie A in the coming season.

The Udinese man has for every summer in the past two years been linked with clubs especially in the English Premier League (EPL) and the current transfer window has been no different.

Badu was initially linked to Hull City whose owners have links to his current club but talks of a strong interest from Stoke City over the past few weeks overshadowed it. Potters Manager Mark Hughes is in the market for a central midfielder due to the imminent departure of Steven Nzonzi to Sevilla and is reportedly looking at signing the Ghana international he failed to land last summer as replacement.

The 24-year-old who is on summer holidays in Ghana, has confirmed flying out to England in mid-June where he held talks with his representatives over a potential summer move to the EPL.

"I went to the UK that is true, I had a series of meetings with some big men but since then no one has called Udinese," he said to Metro TV.

Badu has in a "loyalty call," been urged by compatriot and former club great, Mohammed Gargo to stay put at Udinese but the 2009 Under-20 World Cup winner has rejected the call insisting he would head to the exit should there be a better offer with more playing opportunities elsewhere.

"This our work, it is not like the olden days that you would have to stay [loyal]; it depends on who can pay and playing time," he said.

"I really love the club [Udinese]; they give me whatever I want there but if the opportunity comes, I would want to move."

Last season, Badu saw his overall Serie A tally drop by two matches (compared to the 2013/14 season) but maintained his 20-game starts and made seven substitute appearances for the Udine club. He scored one goal.