CorSport: ‘A giant for Milan’ – 23-goal Genk star being evaluated by Tare

It’s no secret that Igli Tare has several scouts in Belgium, and the latest target he has circled on his list is Tolu Arokodare of Genk.

With the Ardon Jashari talks still ongoing and after Archie Brown chose Fenerbahce instead, Milan are again looking at the Juliper Pro League in their bid to give Massimiliano Allegri an alternative to Santiago Gimenez.

According to Corriere dello Sport, the Arokodare option is one being considered because he ticks a lot of boxes. The Nigerian scored 23 in 45 games this season for Genk last season and in the league, he found the back of the net 17 times in 30 matches.

These are certainly positive numbers, even if they must be properly proportioned to the level of the Belgian league. He scored 22 goals in 32 games in Latvia, plus 14 goals in 55 appearances in Ligue 2, with Valmiera and Amiens respectively.

Profile and cost

Tare revealed that the search for a new striker includes profiles similar to Olivier Giroud, i.e. a penalty area man, physically strong and with a sense of goal, able to bring the team forward by jostling with opposing defenders and to exploit crosses and assists inside the 18-yard box.

Arokodare stands at 1.97m, while he also has speed when he gets going and evident physical strength. From a technical standpoint there are some things to be worked on, but he remains young enough to develop further.

The other reason why Arokodare is among the most likely candidates for Milan’s new No.9 is his price. The Nigerian is valued between €20-25m, which falls in the ball park of the usual per-player investment and is cheaper than Victor Boniface, valued at around €20m more.