Follow Us on Google
Atalanta management is weighing up what to do with Ademola Lookman in January.
After seeing offers of €50m turned down for him over the summer, Lookman went public over his frustrations. The Nigeria striker has since struggled this season, which has coincided with La Dea’s slide down the table and the sacking of Ivan Juric.
La Gazzetta dello Sport says Atalanta management hopes Lookman responds positively to new coach Raffaele Palladino, but if his current form continues then selling in January hasn’t been ruled out.
Watching developments are Atletico Madrid and Tottenham, which both tried for Lookman over the offseason.
However, Galatasaray is regarded as favourites and has already tabled a contract offer worth €9m-a-year to Lookman’s agents ahead of the winter market.
Crucially, Atalanta will slash its asking price from the €50m valuation.
… Fenerbahçe to battle Gala for Atalanta star
Two of Turkey’s biggest clubs, Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, are preparing for a fierce January transfer window showdown as they intensify efforts to sign Nigeria international, Ademola Lookman, Soccernet.ng reports.
It is an open secret that Lookman’s relationship with Atalanta has deteriorated sharply in recent months.
Other News
The 28-year-old winger, one of Serie A’s standout performers last season, has found himself increasingly frustrated in Bergamo after Atalanta blocked a move to Inter Milan last summer. Inter offered €45 million, but Atalanta insisted on €50 million, a stance that reportedly angered the player.
Tensions rose further when Lookman briefly walked out of training and left the club’s facility, before later returning to the squad.
His frustration reached boiling point during Atalanta’s Champions League match against Marseille on November 5, when he was involved in a heated touchline exchange with former manager Ivan Juric. Atalanta has since dismissed Ivan Juric but it is a development that is unlikely to change Lookman’s affection for the club.
Lookman’s contract runs until June 2027, giving Atalanta a strong negotiating position, but the player is believed to be pushing for a fresh start elsewhere. Whether Atalanta will sanction a sale in January remains uncertain, especially with the winger set to join Nigeria for the Africa Cup of Nations later in December.
Galatasaray views Lookman as a marquee addition who could link up with Super Eagles teammate, Victor Osimhen, while Fenerbahçe has monitored him for months and even submitted an offer shortly after Italy’s summer transfer window closed, a bid Atalanta rejected immediately.
Although Lookman is expected to be further reintegrated into the squad under new coach Raffaele Palladino, Atalanta’s hierarchy will assess his form and attitude over the coming weeks before deciding whether to reopen transfer negotiations.
Beyond Turkey, European interest remains strong, according to Teamtalk. Atletico Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur, who both attempted to sign Lookman during the summer, are preparing fresh January approaches.
However, Galatasaray is considered firm favourites, fuelled by reports the team has offered Lookman a lucrative €9 million-per-year contract.
Lookman is said to be open to the move and particularly enthusiastic about the possibility of teaming up with Osimhen at Rams Park, where Galatasaray plans to build a Nigerian-led attacking force.
