Italian Serie A side Atalanta have identified Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare as a strong candidate to bolster their attack following the departure of Mateo Retegui, with several Italian media outlets reporting increasing interest in the Genk forward.
According to Tutto Atalanta, the Bergamo-based club is actively searching for a replacement for Retegui, who recently completed a high-profile move to Saudi Arabia.
The deal reportedly brought in nearly three times the €22 million Atalanta initially paid for the Italo-Argentine forward—making it one of the club’s biggest-ever sales.
While Napoli’s Giacomo Raspadori and Lecce’s Nikola Krstovic are also on the club’s radar, Arokodare has emerged as a “concrete option” under serious consideration.
The 23-year-old Nigerian international enjoyed a breakout season in the 2024/25 Belgian Pro League, finishing as the league’s top scorer.
He netted 21 goals for Genk across the regular season and playoffs, helping the club secure a UEFA Europa League qualification spot.
Valued at around €20 million—a price deemed “well within reach” for Atalanta, Arokodare is known for his strength, aerial ability, and sharp finishing.
Standing at 197 centimetres, he is viewed as a striker who could complement Gianluca Scamacca and provide crucial depth, especially with El Bilal Touré returning from loan.
While AC Milan have also shown interest in the Nigerian, Atalanta’s reputation for sharp European scouting could give them an edge.
Prima Bergamo emphasized that although Arokodare may not be the most glamorous name in the market, he is a “profile worth monitoring” due to his physical presence, goal instinct, and exposure to top-tier European football.
The report added that Atalanta’s scouting team remains vigilant and is unlikely to overlook a player who fits their mold of developing tactically disciplined and physically dominant talents.
Arokodare could also prove a key asset during international breaks, with the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on the horizon. He is expected to feature for Nigeria alongside Atalanta’s own Ademola Lookman, who has reportedly expressed a desire to leave.
For Atalanta, the Nigerian forward offers not just short-term reinforcement but long-term potential—qualities that align well with the club’s forward-looking philosophy.