The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lookman

  • Conte wants to capture Lookman for Napoli

    Conte wants to capture Lookman for Napoli

    Napoli manager Antonio Conte has urged the club’s hierarchy to make a strong push for the signing of Super Eagles winger Ademola Lookman this summer.

    According to reports, Conte considers the Atalanta star the ideal long-term replacement for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who departed Napoli for Paris Saint-Germain in January. Lookman is seen as the most accessible high-quality option available in the market.

    Napoli are reportedly prepared to offer up to €50 million for the former Everton winger, but Atalanta are holding out for €60 million and are said to be open to selling him to the highest bidder.

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    The Serie A champions have already kicked off their summer transfer business with a major statement signing, Manchester City legend Kevin De Bruyne, and are aiming to bolster the squad further as they prepare to defend their league title and make a deep run in the UEFA Champions League next season.

    Sources close to Lookman suggest the Nigerian forward is open to a move this summer. His name has been prominently featured in transfer discussions across Europe, with clubs like Arsenal, Manchester United, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich reportedly showing interest.

    Lookman joined Atalanta permanently from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2022 and has flourished in Italy under the guidance of Gian Piero Gasperini. However, with Gasperini now at AS Roma and replaced by Ivan Juric, the new manager is reportedly making efforts to convince the Nigerian international to stay.

    Since arriving at Atalanta, Lookman has scored 52 goals and registered 25 assists in 118 appearances across all competitions for La Dea.

  • Russia coach expects tough Nigeria sans  Osimhen, Lookman

    Russia coach expects tough Nigeria sans  Osimhen, Lookman

    Russia coach has warned Super Eagles will not be soft touch Friday even though they will be without top stars Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.

    This will be the first-ever clash between Russia and Nigeria at full international level.

     “It doesn’t change our preparation at all. Without Osimhen and Lookman, there will be other equally good footballers,” Russia coach Valeri Karpin told Komsomolskaya Pravda

     “Now there are many media outlets, bloggers, internet broadcasts… They write: “Nigeria is bringing a second team” only because two leaders didn’t come.”

    The Russian coach was quick to point out that his own squad is also without several key names.

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     “Then we can also say that we are bringing a second team. We don’t have Golovin, we don’t have Zakharyan. Golovin, Zakharyan, Barinov, Diveev were not in the match with Zambia,” he said.

     “These are our main players, our stars. Safonov was not there. But no one is talking about this.”

    Karpin revealed that he is looking forward to facing top Super Eagles players like Sevilla forward Kelechi Iheanacho and Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface, but admitted he’d have preferred Osimhen and Lookman to test his squad.

     “Of course. I repeat, I would like to have both Osimhen and Lookman to test our team against the best players,” he said.

     “But their absence certainly does not make Nigeria fundamentally weaker.”

  • Lookman presents CAF player of the year award to Tinubu

    Lookman presents CAF player of the year award to Tinubu

    Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has presented his CAF Player of the Year award to Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during the president’s two-day visit to Lagos.

    Lookman was received by Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and President Tinubu at the Government House on Friday.

    The 27-year-old winger was crowned Africa’s best player at a CAF awards ceremony held in Marrakech, Morocco, last December, succeeding compatriot Victor Osimhen, who won the award in 2023.

    Read Also: Napoli to sign Lookman

    Lookman earned the honour following his standout performance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, where he scored three goals and provided one assist in seven appearances for the Super Eagles.

    He also starred for Atalanta in their UEFA Europa League triumph, famously scoring a hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen.

  • Napoli to sign Lookman

    Napoli to sign Lookman

    Napoli will go all out to sign Ademola Lookman should Antonio Conte remain as the coach of the recently crowned Italian champions.

    Ademola Lookman is on his way out of another Serie A club, Atalanta, and according to Radio Marte, his next destination will be Napoli, were Conte to get his wish.

    “We can confirm that Lookman is Conte’s number one target,” disclosed journalist Gianluca Gifuni, who is the host of Forza Napoli Sempre.

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    “The Atalanta player is his first name, his big dream for the left flank.”

     However, Napoli will have to dig deep into their pockets to sign the reigning African Player of 2024, as his club’s valuation is a steep 60 Million Euros.

    They also have stiff competition from the Premier League.

    Interestingly, it could be a case of one Nigerian out and another Nigerian in as Napoli will sell Victor Osimhen this summer after his loan spell at Galatasaray.

  • Atalanta ready to sell Lookman for €40m

    Atalanta ready to sell Lookman for €40m

    Serie A side, Atalanta is now reportedly ready to  sell  Ademola Lookman  this summer  as the Nigeria international striker is expected to  make  his last appearance  for the Serie A side on Sunday. 

    Ready to be sold with Lookman is Brazilian Ederson with the club aiming to earn almost €100m from the pair’s sale.

    According to reports in  Italy, both Lookman and Ederson could be playing their final Atalanta game when La Dea host strugglers Parma in the last game of the season in Serie A on Sunday.

    The famous pink paper,  Gazzetta dello Sport claimed  Atalanta are ready to listen to offers for the pair in the summer.

    Both Lookman and Ederson moved to Atalanta in 2022. The club is now reportedly willing to sell the Nigerian striker for more than €40m and the Brazilian midfielder for at least €50m.

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    Lookman has scored 20 goals and provided seven assists in 39 games across all competitions this season. After a Champions League exit in February, he was involved in a public argument with coach Gian Piero Gasperini, but the duo cleared the air in the following weeks.

    According to the report, Atalanta haven’t yet received concrete offers for Lookman.

    Ederson’s situation is slightly different. The Brazilian has reportedly attracted interest from Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, and Manchester United.

    According to Gazzetta, Ederson currently has more offers and chances to leave Atalanta than Lookman.

    Both players are expected to start in the last game of the season against Parma at the Gewiss Stadium on Sunday.

  • Osimhen , Lookman missing  as Chelle named   squads for Unity Cup, Russia

    Osimhen , Lookman missing  as Chelle named   squads for Unity Cup, Russia

    Head Coach Eric Chelle has selected rave-of-the-moment in France, Moses Simon, goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and forward Ahmed Musa among a total of 25 Super Eagles who will execute this month-end’s Unity Cup Tournament in London.

    Conspicuously missing  is in-form  Napoli-owned  Galatasaray striker, Victor Osimhen  and  Atalanta striker, Ademola Lookman.

    Chelle, who admitted that “we’re looking forward to taking part in the Unity Cup as it will give us the chance to try out a few new players in different roles, helping us to strengthen our squad before the matches in September and October,” has included a number of standout Nigeria Premier Football League players in the Unity Cup house-party.

    Junior Harrison Nduka, captain of the CHAN-bound Super Eagles B and of champions Remo Stars, will seek a slot in the defence that also has Semi Ajayi, Bruno Onyemaechi, Igoh Ogbu and fellow home-boys Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, Sodiq Ismaila and Waliu Ojetoye, while Papa Daniel Mustapha, Saviour Isaac and Collins Ugwueze will have to contend with Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka and Chrisantus Uche in midfield.

    At the fore, Ahmed Musa, Adamu Abubakar and Sikiru Alimi are up against Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Cyriel Dessers, Nathan Tella, Tolu Arokodare and Kelechi Iheanacho.

    The Unity Cup Tournament, involving Nigeria, Jamaica, Ghana and Trinidad and Tobago, will be staged at the 17,250-capacity Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford, West London.

    The tournament will kick off with the first semi-final on Tuesday, 27th  May as Trinidad & Tobago tackle Jamaica in the first-ever ‘Trini-Jam’ on UK soil. The following day, three-time African champions Nigeria will take on four-time African champions Ghana in the second semi-final, which will come with all the intrigues and variables of a 74-year rivalry between the two continental giants.

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    All four teams will return on Saturday, 31st May for the grand finale, with the losers of the semi-final fixtures featuring in the third-place game, before the Final to determine The Unity Cup 2025 champions.

    For the friendly with Russia’s senior men team at the Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow on Friday, 6th June, Chelle has picked a total of 21 players, with captain William Ekong, fellow defenders Olaoluwa Aina and Bright Osayi-Samuel, midfielders Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Raphael Onyedika, and forwards Victor Boniface and Sadiq Umar joining a number of picks from the Unity Cup cohort.

    SUPER EAGLES FOR UNITY CUP TOURNAMENT:

    Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania)

    Defenders: Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Junior Harrison Nduka (Remo Stars); Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Enugu Rangers); Sodiq Ismaila (Remo Stars); Waliu Ojetoye (Ikorodu City)

    Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany); Saviour Isaac (Enugu Rangers); Chrisantus Uche (Getafe CF, Spain); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes); Collins Ugwueze (Enugu Rangers)

    Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough FC, England); Simon Moses (FC Nantes, France); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Sikiru Alimi (Remo Stars); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium); Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars); Adamu Abubakar (Plateau United)

    Available for training only: Felix Agu (Werder Bremen, Germany).

    SUPER EAGLES FOR RUSSIA FRIENDLY:

    Goalkeepers: Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania)

    Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic)

    Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC, Italy); Chrisantus Uche (Getafe CF, Spain); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)

    Forwards: Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough FC, England); Simon Moses (FC Nantes, France); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium); Sadiq Umar (Valencia CF, Spain)

  • Eagles Tracker: Dessers, Lookman among goals for Rangers, Atalanta

    Eagles Tracker: Dessers, Lookman among goals for Rangers, Atalanta

    Rangers’ highest scorer for the outgoing season, Cyriel Dessers notched his 25th  goal of the season while Ademola Lookman ended six game goal drought to score Atalanta third goal in their away win at Monza.

    Dessers who won the top scorer award at the Rangers award night recently ended the season with a flourish putting the Gers a goal up in the 44th minute. The goal threatened a third straight win for Rangers over stubborn rivals, Celtic but Adam Idah bagged the equalising goal for the reigning Scottish Premiership Champions to end the game in a draw.

    Dessers ended the season with 25 goals and seven assists from 52 games in all competitions to help Rangers finish second with 68 points from 35 league games.

    Super Eagles defender, Leon Balogun was also dressed for the game for its duration as he wound down on his contract with the club.

    In Italy, Ademola Lookman ended his goal drought with Atalanta after scoring for the first time for the Zebras since March 9th  in the 4-0 mauling of Juventus in Turin. He scored the third goal in Atalanta’s 4-0 away win at Monza. The result relegated the latter from Serie A.

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    Atalanta are third in the league with 68 points from 35 games. They are mathematically out of the title race but could still finish second if Inter capitulates in the last three games.

    Lookman has netted 19 goals and five assists from 37 games.

    In other Serie A tie, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru was benched in Lazio’s 1-0 win at Empoli. Tyronne Ebuehi also sat out the tie for Empoli.

    In Spain, Chidera Ejuke was introduced in the 84th minute of Sevilla’s 2-2 draw at home to Leganes. Akor Adams, the other Nigerian was not available for selection as he is still nursing a thigh injury.

    In France, Gabriel Osho sat out Auxerre’s 2-1 home loss to Le Havre with the winning goal coming in the dying minute of the game.

    Moses Simon’s Nantes were also beaten 1-0 at home by Angers. He saw out the entire minutes.

    In Germany, Frank Onyeka played out 79 minutes of Augsburg’s 3–1 loss at home to Holstein Kiel while thigh injury ruled out Super Eagles attacker, Victor Boniface from Bayer Leverkusen’s 2–2 draw away to Freiburg which protected their unbeaten away record. They scored the two goals in the last minute of the game.

    Nathan Tella was brought on in the 76th  minute for Jeremie Frimpong. The draw has handed Bayern Munich the league title again a year after Leverkusen beat the serial champions to the diadem.

  • London Unity Cup:  Osimhen, Lookman may miss Ghana match

    London Unity Cup:  Osimhen, Lookman may miss Ghana match

    The chances of four key players of the Super Eagles playing in the upcoming friendly game against Ghana at the four-team tournament in England are looking very slim, as revealed by OwnGoalNigeria.com.

    The first match of the Super Eagles in the four-team tournament comes up on the 29th of May against the Black Stars of Ghana, a day after the game opener, which will be Trinidad and Tobago vs Jamaica.

    The date of the game is too sudden for four key members of the team, who will at that time still be involved with their clubs, raising the possibility of missing the game and probably the tournament.

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    The players who may be absent from the game are Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Maduka Okoye, and Samuel Chukwueze.

    Osimhen will play his last game of the season on the 1st of June, two days before the Super Eagles’ first game of the tournament, which means he won’t be available until he is released by Galatasaray.

    Also, Lookman will play his last club game for the Italian side, Atalanta, on the 25th of May, four days before the start of the tournament, and the earliest he can arrive will be around the 26th or 27th. More so, his club also wants the player to take the summer off and be fit for the next season, as he is presently battling to be at his best due to injuries.

    Due to club loyalty, goalkeeper Okoye of Udinese and Chukwueze of AC Milan are also said to be considering not featuring in the tournament.

  • Liverpool step up pursuit of Lookman despite Salah’s two-year deal

    Liverpool step up pursuit of Lookman despite Salah’s two-year deal

    Liverpool are interested in signing Super Eagles and Atalanta attacker, Ademola Olajade Lookman, despite Mo Salah’s new two-year deal, Soccernet.ng reports.

    The 2024 CAF Player of the Year has scored 18 goals and provided six assists for La Dea across all competitions this season. However, the 27-year-old has a strained relationship with the club’s coach, Gian Piero Gasperini, fuelling exit talks ahead of the summer transfer window.

    Lookman has been on Liverpool’s radar for a while, as many thought the Merseysiders were eyeing him as a potential replacement for Mo Salah due to the Egyptian’s complicated contract situation at Anfield. In the end, the former Roma winger penned a two-year extension with Arne Slot’s side.

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    “It’s amazing” – Everything Ademola Lookman said after clinching the CAF Player of the Year Award

    ‘It still haunts me’ – Okocha issues warning to Super Eagles stars Lookman and Osimhen

    According to Italian outlet, Il Giorno, Liverpool are still interested in making a deal happen for the former RB Leipzig attacker.

    Arne Slot’s side are looking to bring in a dynamic and versatile forward who can play in any role across Liverpool’s front line, similar to Luis Diaz, who is on Barcelona’s books.

    Salah will be 33 years old at the start of next season, and the Liverpool board are looking to bring in a player who’ll make the team as a whole less dependent on the Egyptian to put the ball into the back of the net.

  • THE ITALIAN JOB: Eyes on Samuel Chukwueze, Lookman as Milan host Atalanta

    THE ITALIAN JOB: Eyes on Samuel Chukwueze, Lookman as Milan host Atalanta

    Separated by 10 points in the Serie A standings, Lombardy rivals AC Milan and Atalanta BC meet at San Siro tomorrow  with   eyes on  the  Nigerian duo of  Samuel Chukwueze  and Ademola Lookman  on the opposing sides.

    While the visitors are still fighting for a top-four finish, Milan’s hopes of returning to the Champions League are almost over – despite winning 4-0 in Udine last time out.

    Days after coming back to snatch a point at home to Fiorentina, Milan swept Udinese aside thanks to strikes by Rafael Leao, Strahinja Pavlovic, Theo Hernandez and the irrepressible Tijjani Reijnders, who took his Serie A tally into double figures for the season.

    Despite such an emphatic success, the Rossoneri still sit ninth in the table, trailing behind several teams in a crowded race for European qualification.

    With just six rounds remaining, winning the Coppa Italia may now offer their best chance of securing a spot in continental competition: Sergio Conceicao’s side fought out a draw in the first leg of their semi-final tie against city rivals Inter, and they will play the second leg next week.

    First, they must host another local side – Serie A’s second-top scorers Atalanta – having struggled to keep clean sheets since Conceicao took charge. Across their last nine home games, Milan have managed just a single shutout – against lowly Hellas Verona in February.

    Tomorrow  will mark only the second time that the second-city giants have faced La Dea while trailing by at least 10 points. So, having also lost three of the teams’ last four meetings, Milan’s longstanding supremacy in this contest may be consigned to the past.

    Back in December, a late Ademola Lookman goal secured victory for Atalanta in the reverse fixture, at a time when the Bergamaschi were flying high on all fronts.

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    During 2025, though, they have been bedeviled by inconsistency, and their slim Scudetto hopes were recently ended when they lost three straight games without scoring.

    It came as a relief, then, when Mateo Retegui’s 23rd  league goal of a sparkling season put them ahead after three minutes of last week’s clash with in-form Bologna, and they eventually secured a 2-0 win over their fellow top-four contenders.

    Set to be crowned Capocannoniere next month, Retegui is now intent on overhauling Pippo Inzaghi’s club record for Serie A strikes in a single campaign – 24, set in 1996-97 – and his input could prove crucial as Atalanta seek a Champions League return.

    Now being closely pursued by Juventus – plus Bologna and both Rome clubs – the Nerazzurri cannot afford many more slip-ups, as they have a particularly challenging run-in.

    For all their recent failings, Gian Piero Gasperini’s side have accrued the most away points in Serie A so far, collecting fewer than only Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona across Europe’s top five leagues.

    After racking up 12 top-flight away games without defeat – a fine run featuring nine wins – La Dea lost to Fiorentina last time they left Bergamo, so they will aim to start another streak on Sunday night.