By Wale Mustapha
Retired Belgium defender Olivier Deschacht has expressed concerns about the potential challenges Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare might face if he moves to the English Premier League (EPL).
Arokodare has been in exceptional form in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League this season, leading the league’s top scorer charts with 13 goals and 5 assists. His performances have drawn the attention of several EPL clubs, with Racing Genk reportedly hoping to receive a bid of around 25 million euros for the 24-year-old striker.
Despite Arokodare’s impressive displays, Deschacht is wary of the move, citing the struggles of fellow Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu, who has found it difficult to perform at Southampton after his switch from Genk. Onuachu has failed to score in 24 matches for the Premier League club, which has led Deschacht to question whether Arokodare could fare any better.
“Will someone pay 20 million to take Tolu away? It could be possible, but I don’t think so,” Deschacht told DAZN. “I look at Onuachu. I rate him higher than Tolu, but he couldn’t make it in the Premier League. It would be difficult for Tolu too.”
Onuachu’s ongoing struggles serve as a cautionary tale for Arokodare, who will need to prove he can adapt to the pace and intensity of the Premier League if he makes the move. Despite the interest, Deschacht’s comments highlight the risks involved in such a high-profile transfer.
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.
