Atalanta have made it clear that Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman will only leave the club this summer if a sufficient offer is presented, with the Serie A club refusing to entertain any conversations below their valuation.
According to Italian tabloid Le Bombe di Vlad, the Bergamo-based club is not ruling out Lookman’s departure but has set a price tag of between €45m and €50m for the 2024 African Footballer of the Year.
“Atalanta have already drawn a very clear line: Lookman will only leave Zingonia in the event of a major offer, well above €30m,” the report read.
“The valuation is between €45m and €50m, a figure justified by the player’s consistent performance, including his impact in big matches last season.”
The Italian site also stated that, despite interest from numerous big European clubs, including Arsenal, Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, and Napoli, none had submitted an offer that fits Atalanta’s requirements.
Barcelona apparently sees Lookman as a plug-and-play addition to their frontline, but their strategy fell short of expectations.
Arsenal, who are looking for a winger, have renewed their interest in the former RB Leipzig player, while Napoli has surfaced as a late contender. Meanwhile, reports suggest that Juventus is closely monitoring the situation.
Nonetheless, Atalanta maintains their stand. The club is under no pressure to sell Lookman and insists that he is essential to their technical project, particularly under new manager Ivan Juric.
The Nigerian has two years left on his deal and has not sought a transfer.
“The club is in no hurry to sell and considers the player to be a key figure in the team’s plans,” Le Bombe di Vlad added.
“Lookman himself has not demanded a transfer and remains focused on the Atalanta project, although a call from a top European club could lead him to consider a new adventure.”
Since joining Atalanta in 2022, the Super Eagles star has been in incredible form, scoring 55 goals and giving 25 assists across all competitions.
He scored a stunning hat-trick in the 2024 UEFA Europa League final, guiding the club to a historic European victory.
His goal totals over three seasons, including 20 goals and seven assists in the just-concluded 2024/25 season, put him statistically ahead of other highly ranked targets like Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze and Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, both of whom are also being pursued by Arsenal.
However, the Gunners have yet to fully commit to the Lookman signing, with his name reportedly ranking third on their priority list for wide offensive reinforcements.
Despite Atalanta supposedly securing a replacement forward, club administrators refuse to decrease their asking price.
“Lookman’s departure is being considered only as an exceptional option. If any club truly wants to take him away from Bergamo, they must prove it with an offer that leaves no room for doubt,” Le Bombe di Vlad added.
