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News
- 2 hours ago
Man Utd the big winners as Nigeria striker 'DISAPPEARS'
Tom Weber
- Updated: 6 Aug 2025 19:02 BST
- 4 min read
News
Manchester United could be the big beneficiaries of the bizarre transfer battle between Atalanta and Inter over Ademola Lookman.
The Nigeria international has been widely expected to leave Bergamo this summer, but Atalanta are not making things easy. The Serie A side are demanding a whopping fee in excess of €50 million for Lookman, which no suitors have so far been willing to match.
Inter are the latest club to have attempted to sign the 27-year-old, trying - and failing - with several bids to get Atalanta to yield. The latest rejection prompted Lookman to take action.
Current ETV
Ademola Lookman
F (C)
Atalanta
Ademola Lookman
F (C)
Atalanta
ETV Range
€43M - €52.6M
He publicly announced that he had handed in a formal transfer request and accused Atalanta of reneging on an agreement to allow him to leave the club this summer.
The Bergamo outfit, meanwhile, do not dispute that a verbal pact existed between the two parties, but they insist that it was specifically stated that they would only allow him to join an elite team outside of Italy.
Sancho instead of Lookman?
Gazzetta dello Sport has now provided an update on the situation. The report states that Lookman has 'disappeared,' essentially going AWOL and refusing to train with Atalanta.
It is thought that Inter will return with yet another bid as they know that Lookman is keen on the move, but there is an acceptance that alternative targets have to be explored in case Atalanta continue to play hardball.
The Italian outlet asserts that Man Utd outcast Jadon Sancho has come into focus in recent times as a potential contingency should no deal be agreed for Lookman.
Christopher Nkunku is another name being considered, but Sancho is currently 'gaining the most traction' because he would be significantly cheaper than both the Chelsea striker and Lookman.
Borussia Dortmund are also interested in signing Sancho, but he is not a priority at the moment, with the Bundesliga side very keen on Brighton youngster Facundo Buonanotte.
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