Udinese snub Okoye interest from Serie A European challengers

Serie A side Udinese have reportedly rejected Torino’s bid to sign their goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, according to Italian media reports.

After serving as an unused substitute for 16 consecutive Serie A matches, Okoye stepped up to replace Marco Silvestri as Udinese’s first-choice goalkeeper in the latter half of the 2023/24 season. His crucial performances played a significant role in helping I Bianconeri avoid relegation.

The 24-year-old’s impressive performances for Udinese did not go unnoticed as he has attracted Italian champions Inter Milan and Torino.

In June, transfer market expert Gianluca Di Marzio reported that Inter Milan were in search of a dependable backup goalkeeper to support their first-choice, Yann Sommer. Among the three candidates considered for the role was the Nigerian.

However, Udinese’s €12 million asking price for Okoye deterred Inter, leading them to instead secure Josep Martínez from Genoa, who was valued at a more modest €8 million.

Understanding Torino’s Interest in Maduka Okoye

Italian journalist Alfredo Pedullà reports that Torino’s interest in signing Maduka Okoye stems from uncertainties surrounding their first-choice goalkeeper, Vanja Milinković-Savić.

The 27-year-old Serbian conceded 31 goals in 36 Serie A matches, kept 18 clean sheets, and was named to the Serie A Team of the Week on five occasions.

In contrast, Okoye made 21 appearances for Udinese, conceding 25 goals, keeping five clean sheets, and was featured in the Serie A Team of the Week twice.

The decision to block the transfer remains unclear, but it could be driven by Udinese’s desire to retain a player who, although not as statistically dominant, still provided valuable contributions last season and is considered to have a high ceiling.