The Sardinians have joined the big boys in the Italian top flight and are looking to retain that status come the end of the campaign
Former Chelsea and Leicester City boss, Claudio Ranieri, has set his sights on Cremonese’s David Okereke as he looks to bolster his attacking options for newly promoted Serie A side Cagliari, Soccernet.ng reports.
Ranieri guided Cagliari to promotion after his team clinched a 2-1 victory over Bari in the Serie B playoffs, and now he faces the challenge of keeping the team in Italy’s top flight.
Cagliari’s attack was decent in Serie B last term, managing 50 goals in 38 matches, but Serie A is a different ball game, highlighting the need for reinforcements.
As Ranieri prepares for the upcoming season, he aims to strengthen his squad with functional additions, and Okereke has emerged as a top target, as per reports.
Negotiations between Cagliari and Cremonese during the summer transfer market could pave the way for a potential deal.
However, Cagliari may face tough competition from Turkish giants Besiktas, who are also keen on securing the services of the Nigerian forward.
Reports suggest that Besiktas have already submitted a bid of €4 million, although Cremonese rejected the offer.
Nevertheless, Besiktas are expected to make another attempt to sign Okereke. English side Burnley are also monitoring the player’s situation.
Ranieri is hopeful that Okereke will be interested in remaining in Italy, especially considering the player only arrived on a permanent deal from Club Brugge in Belgium last summer.
The renowned coach’s reputation and track record could also be a decisive factor in convincing Okereke to join Cagliari.
Ranieri has enjoyed tremendous success throughout his coaching career, having won titles with Cagliari, Fiorentina, Valencia, Monaco, and Leicester City.
Ranieri’s most notable achievement came in 2016 when he led Leicester City to a stunning Premier League title victory against all odds.
That remarkable feat earned him several prestigious awards, including The Best FIFA Men’s Coach, European Coach of the Season, World Soccer Magazine World Manager of the Year, and induction into the Italian Football Hall of Fame.
