Nottingham Forest scouts have been closely monitoring the 18-year-old, who currently plays for Grassrunners FC in Ogun State and has emerged as one of the brightest prospects in Nigerian football following an outstanding season, with Premier League scouts said to have attended his matches regularly over the past year.
Standing 6ft 5in, the forward has drawn comparisons to Manchester City's Erling Haaland because of his physique, pace and finishing, and those who have watched him closely believe he has the attributes to become one of Africa's next major exports, reports The Sun.
He capped a breakthrough campaign by finishing as both top scorer and Player of the Tournament in the Nigerian Youth League Cup, performances that have sharpened interest from clubs across Europe and Africa alike.
Forest are understood to be among the sides most impressed by his development and have stepped up their scouting in recent months, while German champions Bayer Leverkusen have also registered interest and are tracking his progress.
Forest are currently regarded as favourites in the race, viewing the striker as a long-term investment rather than an option for the first team any time soon, and have leaned on the influence of Nigerian internationals Taiwo Awoniyi and Ola Aina, who are understood to have spoken positively to the player about the club and its environment as they try to convince him the City Ground is the right next step. Should a deal be completed, the current plan would be to loan him to a club elsewhere in Europe to continue his development.
Nigerian academies have become an increasingly fertile scouting ground for Premier League clubs in recent years, with several sides establishing formal scouting networks across West Africa in search of the next breakout talent.
Forest's own history of successfully developing Nigerian players, including Awoniyi's rise from Liverpool loanee to Premier League regular, is understood to form part of the pitch being made to convince the teenager that a similar pathway could work for him.
Whether Forest can beat Bayer Leverkusen and any late interest from elsewhere to a deal is likely to become clearer over the coming weeks as the transfer window enters its final stretch.