The Super Eagles’ aim is to sign for Leicester City from Atalanta for 15 million euros

Leading Italian journalists Gianluca Di Marzio and Fabrizio Romano report that Leicester City are close to securing the services of 22-year-old defender Caleb Okoli from Atalanta.

Di Marzio said on X, formerly Twitter, that Atalanta will receive €15m, including add-ons, from Leicester City for the defender who has just returned from a season-long loan deal with fellow Serie A side Frosinone.

Okoli is an Italy Under-21 international with 14 appearances for the Azzurrini but is also eligible for Nigeria and former manager Jose Peseiro revealed he asked Nigeria international striker Ademola Lookman to persuade the defender to switch allegiance to Nigeria.

Yes, we will try. After this friendly against Portugal, there will be time to talk to him and understand his decision,” Peseiro told Tuttomercatoweb in 2022.

“Whether he wants to play with us or not, I will speak to him through Lookman: I will present my model, what I think of him, the project we can have together with Nigeria.”

Okoli, a product of the Atalanta and Vincenza academies, spent last season on loan at Frosinone, making 37 appearances in all competitions.

Daniel Martins