Serie A club Lecce have been rebuffed by Shamrock Rovers in a bid to sign Aidomo Emakhu.
But the Italian outfit is set to table a second offer to secure the 18-year-old striker this summer.
Lecce are back in Italy’s top flight after a two-year absence and coach Marco Baroni and director of football Stefano Trinchera are keen to land the exciting attacker.
It’s believed the Hoops turned down an offer in the region of €225,000 for Emakhu.
They want in excess of €350,000 with a sell-on clause inserted, too.
Emakhu has emerged as one of the League of Ireland’s hottest young properties in the past 18 months.
His late goal proved decisive in last summer’s 1-0 home win against Teuta Durres in their Europa Conference League third qualifying round home leg.
Emakhu made 14 first-team appearances last season for the champions, with most of these coming from the bench, scoring two goals in the process.
This year has seen the teenager figure in 13 matches, but he has yet to hit the target.
He has been afforded time by manager Stephen Bradley to concentrate on his Leaving Cert this month
Emakhu’s headline-grabbing moment in Europe and subsequent performances for the Hoops led to interest in the teenager last January.
However, he has penned a new deal with Rovers that keeps him in Tallaght until the end of 2023.
Tottenham manager Antonio Conte is Lecce’s best-known football export.
Serie A has emerged as a growing destination of choice for young Irish footballers.
St Patrick’s Athletic defender James Abankwah will join Udinese on July 1 in a €900,000 deal, while Hoops kid Kevin Zefi moved to Inter Milan last summer.
New Ireland senior squad member Festy Ebosele is also on his way to Udinese following his decision to leave Derby County.
And Cathal Heffernan joined AC Milan on loan from Cork City last January ahead of his expected permanent transfer next month.
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