Tag: Lookman

Nigerian ace begs for EPL  switch

Expert blames advisers for transfer mess

After weeks of transfer deadlock, Ademola Lookman  has reportedly returned to  Atalanta and training alone at the club’s  Zingonia training ground.

Both Atalanta  and Lookman  has been locked in transfer deadlock  over the past weeks  after a breakdown in negotiations between La Dea and Inter. The Nigeria International striker had  expressed his displeasure  and went on AWOL after  Atalanta rejected  a bid worth €45m including bonuses from Inter Milan in this summer window.

In response, Lookman submitted a formal transfer request, and also took to Instagram to accuse Atalanta of breaking promises and treating him poorly on a personal and professional level.

Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi then confirmed that there was a gentleman’s agreement in place that would have allowed Lookman to leave the club this summer, but only for a suitable fee, and only to a big club outside of Italy, which complicated proceedings with Inter.

That led to Lookman taking an unauthorised absence for several weeks and reportedly trained individually in the UK while holding out for a move to Inter.

While  Inter have reportedly abandoned their pursuit of the former RB Leipzig, Everton and Fulham forward, there are fresh speculations that  the entourage of African Footballer of the Year ‘is desperate to find a club abroad, reportedly contacting Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City and Aston Villa’.

According to Football Italia, TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey claimed that the Nigeria international’s entourage has been calling up all the big Premier League sides.

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In a related development, Football Italia transfer expert Alfredo Pedullà in an interview with  The Italian Football Podcast, claimed  that Lookman ‘received bad advice’ and the whole situation involving Inter, Atalanta and Arsenal ‘doesn’t look good for anyone.’

“Look, this is an incredible story, where everyone involved has exaggerated in my opinion, because it is a story that started a month ago,” Pedullà  was quoted as saying.

 “Atalanta pay his salary, they make bank transfers to him, they pay him a lot of money. So I ask myself and I ask you: why is he in London? Why is he convinced that someone will come along and liberate him? Why is he convinced that Inter, given some more time, will make the right offer?

“Atalanta are not getting involved and prefer to leave him there.”

•Demands ‘fair and transparent’ transfer

In a curious twist, former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has reportedly arrived in Italy to present Atalanta with a petition asking for African Player of the Year Ademola Lookman to get his desired transfer.

According to African Hub, Drogba is delivering the 50-page petition that was approved by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The petition demands a ‘fair and transparent’ transfer process.

It calls for “a fair and transparent transfer process” for Lookman, who is the reigning holder of the African Player of the Year Award.

“This move highlights the importance of accountability and justice in global football transfers, especially when it concerns African stars.”

It comes after the Nigerian national team’s social media account posted that they “stand with Ademola Lookman” in his battle to leave Atalanta for Inter.

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Lookman is currently believed to be in Portugal, having taken some time in London, walking out on Atalanta training over a week ago.

He is furious with Atalanta for blocking his path to Inter, claiming the €45m including add-ons offer was sufficient to allow for a transfer.

Atalanta responded that they had promised to sell him last summer if the right proposal came in, but only to a club outside of Italy, to avoid reinforcing their direct competitors.

Meanwhile, 20-time Serie A Champions Inter Milan are set to place an improved offer for the Super Eagle.

Inter Milan have submitted three different bids for the 27-year-old attacker, but all of their offers fell on deaf ears as Atalanta declined all of them, maintaining they don’t want to sell Lookman to another Italian club.

According to BuchiLaba, Inter Milan are set to launch another offer around the range of what Atalanta are demanding for Lookman in the coming days, with the hopes of wrapping the deal up before the end of August.

The Super Eagles star has a contract at the Gewiss Stadium that runs until the summer of 2027, and Atalanta are asking for about €55m fee.

Former Super Eagles striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni has weighed in on the growing uncertainty surrounding Ademola Lookman’s future at Atalanta, urging the embattled winger to align himself with experienced and trustworthy agents and intermediaries who can properly navigate the complex world of football transfers.

Lookman, a standout performer for Nigeria at the 2023 AFCON, finds himself at an impasse with Atalanta FC. His once-promising relationship with the Serie A side has soured in recent months due to a series of broken promises, a public falling-out with manager Gian Piero Gasperini, and a stalled transfer process that has left his future hanging in the balance.

Speaking during an interview with Germany-based Nigerian journalist Oma Akatugba, Yakubu expressed deep concern over Lookman’s situation, offering both sympathy and pointed advice. He emphasized that players must prioritize agents with solid networks, integrity, and a proven history of advocating for their clients’ best interests—over flashy names or hollow assurances.

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“I feel sorry for what Ademola Lookman is going through right now,” said Yakubu. “That’s why I always encourage players to surround themselves with strong personalities who can handle delicate negotiations. Amaju Pinnick would have done a good job or even Gaizka Mendieta—these are people with experience and strong reputations for getting things done the right way.”

The former Everton and Portsmouth striker went on to highlight Pinnick’s impact on his own career: “I see Pinnick as my second father. I remember when I had an offer from a club in Qatar, and he advised me against rushing the move because I was close to becoming a British citizen.

“That advice helped me stay in England, and later I got a better deal from China. Today, I’m a British citizen—and that moment shaped my future.”

Aiyegbeni, who earned 58 caps and scored 21 goals for Nigeria between 2000 and 2012, underscored the broader lesson for Nigerian footballers: the need to align with reliable advisors who prioritize long-term career growth over short-term gains.

 “These are the kinds of people our players need to work with—people who will protect their interests and help advance their careers,” he concluded.

With Ademola Lookman refusing to attend training, there is legal action Atalanta and the player could take, including early termination, as he tries to force through a move to Inter.

The striker already failed to turn up for yesterday’s session at the Zingonia ground and today it was reported he had removed all his personal belongings from the camp.

His contract runs to June 2027, with an option to extend to 2028, so while so far Atalanta have decided not to take disciplinary action, the situation cannot drag on for long.

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According to Calcio e Finanza, the club can dock Lookman’s wages if he fails to attend three consecutive appointments with at least 48 hours between them.

His salary with Atalanta is believed to be worth €1.8m per season net.

However, agent Andrea D’Amico has a different view of the situation, warning that recent developments mean the player could technically sue to have his contract terminated.

 “Don’t forget that after the Diarra case, he could also decide to rescind the contract, which would give Atalanta compensation,” D’Amico told Radio Kiss Kiss. “The abolition of Article 17 on the free circulation of European citizens, because Lookman is a non-EU player, would be exploiting jurisprudential equivalences that equate EU workers with others.”

Diarra won in 2024, when the European Court of Justice ruled that FIFA regulations over some transfers broke EU laws.

It was compared to the infamous 1995 case taken by Jean-Marc Bosman, which allowed players to move as free agents once their contracts expired.

Tuttomercato has reported that top Spanish club Atletico Madrid could now join the chase for Ademola Lookman after they sold winger Samuel Lino to Brazilian club Flamengo.

Atletico plan to boost their attack for the new season with the signing of Ademola Lookman.

However, there are issues such as Atalanta’s asking price of 50 Million Euros, which Atlético were not willing to meet.

Atlético even considered including Samu Lino in the deal.

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Atalanta prefer to sell Lookman to Atlético to avoid strengthening a direct rival in Serie A.

Inter Milan are in a strong position to sign the Super Eagles forward after they have agreed on personal terms with him.

They are now expected to improve on their initial bid of €40 million, which is far below Atalanta’s valuation.

Atalanta have identified Liverpool winger Federico Chiesa as a potential replacement for Nigeria International striker, Ademola Lookman.

The Italian winger has not been included in the Liverpool squad for a pre-season tour of East Asia. Atalanta are preparing to replace Lookman, but will only sell the Nigerian on their condition.

Inter are the only Serie A club in the running for the latest African Ballon d’Or winner, given that Napoli have not shown genuine interest in recent weeks.

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Inter have already offered €40m, but are aware that they’ll have to get closer to €50m, Atalanta’s asking price, to secure the striker’s signature.

Meanwhile, sources further confirmed Atalanta’s interest in Chiesa, who is likely to move to Bergamo once Lookman leaves.

Chiesa scored two goals and provided two assists in 14 appearances across all competitions in his debut Liverpool season.

Inter and Atalanta will enter advanced talks for Lookman in the coming weeks, with the Milan-based club aiming to finalise an agreement with La Dea before the end of July.

Inter are working to lower Atalanta’s €50m asking price, and I reiterate that a bid worth €45m plus €5m add-ons could be enough to convince La Dea.

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Bonuses will be crucial in negotiations between the two Nerazzurri clubs, especially if tied to objectives that are easy to achieve, such as qualification for Europe or Lookman’s first goals or assists with Inter.

Atalanta are aware that they must resolve the situation as soon as possible, especially since Lookman’s former club, RB Leipzig, are entitled to receive a sum from Lookman’s sale.

It is set at 10% for capital gains up to €20m and 15% for amounts exceeding this threshold.

Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman is reportedly suffering from a calf problem that could leave him sidelined for a few weeks, La Gazzetta dello Sport claim.

The Italian newspaper, via SOSFanta, are reporting that after failing some discomfort in his calf after Wednesday’s training session, he began to felt more pain when kicking the ball and is set to undergo an examination to inspect the extent of the injury.

Read Also: Lookman inches closer to Inter from Atalanta

It appears to be nothing major but for now it leaves the Nigerian forward out of full training with Atalanta.

Inter have reportedly submitted a first bid of €40 million to the Bergamo club for the former Fulham player. However, Atalanta value the player at €50 million and are not prepared to budge from this valuation.

The player wants to join Inter and reports claim an agreement has already been reached between the player and Inter informally – but now the Nerazzurri will have to put their money where their mouth is if they wish to convince Atalanta to part ways with the talented attacker.