Just weeks after being linked with moves to English side Arsenal, Scottish giants Celtic and German outfit Borussia Dortmund, Atalanta are reported to have joined the race for Kenyan international Joseph Okumu.The 25-year-old is one of the hottest properties in Belgium after an impeccable season with KAA Gent where he aided the team to the Belgian Cup, beating Anderlecht 4-3 on penalties after a barren draw on regular time.A look at Okumu’s meteoric rise in market value amid interests from Germany, Spain, and ItalyAccording to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Atalanta are not only interested in KRC Genk defender Jhon Lucumí but are also on the radar of Okumu.“Not only Lucumì (defender born in 1998 of the Genk). Atalanta is keeping an eye on another central defender who plays in Belgium, Joseph Okumu, a Kenyan giant from Ghent. The class of ’97 has a contract valid until 2025,” read part of an article from the Italian news outlet.##NAJAVA_MECA_6453944##The Italian outfit sold Cristian Romero in the last summer transfer window and replaced him with Merih Demiral who arrived on loan from Juventus with an option to buy but has struggled to nail down a regular starting position.Okumu misses out on Gent’s Player of the Year awardDemiral has since returned to Juventus with Atalanta opting not to exercise the option to buy as Atalanta head coach Gian Piero Gasperini deployed Marten De Roon in his back three despite being a center back.Okumu posted an outstanding campaign in the just concluded season as he scored three goals in 46 matches and helped the team secure another season in the UEFA Europa Conference League.
