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Atalanta identify Arokodare as top target to replace Retegui amid Lookman uncertainty

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Atalanta identify Arokodare as top target to replace Retegui amid Lookman uncertainty

By Dayo Awoniyi

Serie A side Atalanta have identified Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare as their top candidate to replace Mateo Retegui following the Italian forward’s €65 million move to Saudi Pro League club Al Qadsiah, according to reports from Italian journalist Alfredo Pedullà, cited by Bold Sports.

Arokodare, currently on the books of Belgian side Genk, heads a three-man shortlist as Atalanta intensify their search for a new striker ahead of the 2025/26 season.

The 23-year-old Super Eagles forward is coming off a breakout season in the Belgian Pro League, where he scored 23 goals and registered five assists across all competitions, earning him the league’s Golden Boot and multiple individual accolades.

While Atalanta consider Arokodare their primary target, negotiations could prove challenging with Genk, particularly as other clubs are also monitoring the player’s situation.

Fulham’s Brazilian striker Rodrigo Muniz and Lecce’s Nikola Krstovic are also under consideration.

However, Fulham are reportedly reluctant to sell Muniz with the Premier League season set to begin soon, while Krstovic has impressed with 19 goals in 54 appearances.

Retegui’s departure has left a significant gap in Atalanta’s attack after a standout season in which he netted 25 Serie A goals and added eight assists, along with three goals in the UEFA Champions League.

Meanwhile, Atalanta are engaged in parallel negotiations with Inter Milan over the potential transfer of Nigerian winger Ademola Lookman.

Should Lookman depart, Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa has been identified as a possible replacement.

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Samuel Ahmadu
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
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