Transfer news: Kocaelispor target Nigeria’s Okereke after Cremonese struggles

Turkish side Kocaelispor have returned to the market for Nigerian striker David Okereke, reviving a move that failed to materialise at the start of this season, Afrik-Foot reports.

With the Trendyol Super Lig campaign entering its closing weeks, the club have stepped up preparations for the next campaign and Okereke’s name has once again moved to the top of their shortlist, according to reports from Turkey.

The 28-year-old forward is currently with Italian side US Cremonese, but his contract is set to expire at the end of June. That situation has created an opportunity for Kocaelispor to push forward without the burden of a transfer fee, a key factor in their renewed approach.

This is not the first time the club have tried to bring Okereke to Turkey. Talks were held last summer but the deal collapsed before it could be completed. Kocaelispor then shifted focus and explored other attacking options, including Croatian forward Bruno Petković.

Now, however, circumstances appear more favourable. With Okereke nearing the end of his contract and his playing time at Cremonese limited this season, Kocaelispor believe they have a stronger chance of securing his signature.

The striker’s 2025-26 campaign has been a difficult one. After failing to engineer a move away from Cremonese, Okereke was frozen out of the first team for the first part of the campaign. However, with Cremonese facing imminent relegation at the turn of the year, the former Nigeria U23 star was restored into team’s set-up.

The former Club Brugge star has since made eight league appearances, scoring once, a goal that came in March during a defeat to Fiorentina. Despite those challenges, he has shown flashes of his direct running and attacking intent, qualities that continue to attract interest.

İnan connection driving renewed Okereke push

A major reason behind Kocaelispor’s renewed interest in Okereke is the influence of head coach Selçuk İnan. The pair worked together during the 2024–25 season when the forward was on loan at Gaziantep FK, and that relationship is now shaping transfer plans.

During that spell, Okereke delivered a solid return of nine goals and three assists in 30 appearances. More importantly, he proved he could adapt to Turkish football, something İnan values highly as he builds a squad capable of competing consistently.

The coach is believed to have given a positive report on the striker, highlighting his pace, movement behind defenders and ability to lead quick attacking transitions. These traits fit well with İnan’s tactical approach, which relies on speed and vertical play in the final third.

Kocaelispor’s strategy this summer is not just about signing big names, but about finding players who can slot directly into their system. Okereke is seen as someone who already understands the demands of the league and would require little time to settle.

There is also a financial logic behind the move. With no transfer fee required, the club can focus their resources on wages and other areas of the squad. In a competitive market, that kind of deal represents strong value.

Club officials are keen to complete key signings early, allowing the team to begin pre-season with a settled core. The Okereke move, if completed, would be one of the standout pieces of business in their summer rebuild.

With only two matches left of the current season, Kocaelispor sit in 10th place, despite winning just nine of 32 matches and boasting only 37 points.