It is understood Anderlecht were close to landing Tolu Arokudari in January last year. In the end, KRC Genk stole the striker from under Sporting's noses.
Tolo underwent medical tests at Anderlecht
The 23-year-old striker has been on Anderlecht's radar for some time, because Petr Verbeke had already tried to bring him to Lotto Park in the summer of 2020, when Tolo were still a sensation in the Latvian league.
In January last year, the Nigerian striker returned to Anderlecht. In the final days of the previous winter transfer window, Tolo underwent medical examinations at Anderlecht with the aim of a possible move to Lotto Park.
Frenay gave Anderlecht a huge blow
But that was without KRC Genk and broker Didier Frenay. Frenay still has some elite accounts with Anderlecht, and the player's agent saw Tolo's bid as his chance to give Sporting a big boost.
His client underwent medical tests at Anderlecht on the final day of the transfer window, but the striker then headed with Frenay to Genk, where the Nigerian eventually signed a 4.5-year contract.
Arukudar felt that he was not Anderlecht's first choice
in The importance of Limburg Arokodari looked again at the commotion. However, he was left cold because he felt he was not Anderlecht's first choice.
“Why did Anderlecht come to me on the last day of the Mercato? I certainly wasn't their first choice. They would have also let me go if a higher-ranked striker had taken the bait. I chose Genk over Anderlecht because I felt good about the project they proposed to me.”
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