After warding off suitors for a while, Serie A side Atalanta are finally ready to accept offers for Nigerian international and reigning African footballer of the year, Ademola Lookman.
Lookman who scored 20 goals and provided seven assists in 39 games in all competitions this season, was credited for the club’s Europa league victory last season as his hat-trick sealed 3-0 defeat of Bayer Leverkusen in the final.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelHowever after Atalanta crashed out of the Champions League in February, he was involved in a public argument with coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who blamed him for the exit following penalty miss against Club Brügge.
Lookman is set to play his last game of the season on Sunday against Parma. His four year deal signed in August 2022 for €15 million expires in June 2026.
Italian paper Gazzetta dello Sport claimed that Atalanta are ready to not only to listen to offers for the Nigerian international but also for Brazilian defensive midfielder, Ederson. The Club is reportedly looking at raising at least €100m from the sale of both players.
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Interestingly both men moved to Atalanta in 2022 from Leicester City and Salernitana respectively. The club is aiming to sell the Nigerian striker for more than €40m and the Brazilian midfielder for at least €50m.
The Brazilian has reportedly attracted interest from Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, and Manchester United, with strong indication that he is likely to join one of them.
Although no bid has specifically been dropped on the table in the case of Lookman, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, Newcastle, Arsenal and lately Atlético Madrid are all said to be interested in the reigning African footballer of the year.
Atalanta are currently third on the Serie A log with 74 points in 37 matches.
Napoli and Inter Milan who occupy the first and second position on the log with 82 and 81 points have already sealed the Champions League slots with Atalanta and either Roma and Juventus joining at the end of Sunday clashes to complete the Champions League slots.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
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