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News
- 1 hours ago
Lookman in TOTAL WAR with Atalanta as EPL clubs prepare January move
Carlo Garganese
- Updated: 14 Sept 2025 10:14 BST
- 4 min read
News
The war between Ademola Lookman and Atalanta rumbles on as manager Ivan Juric snipes that he can't "beg him to play".
Lookman had been desperate to join a major club during the summer transfer window and even went on strike when Atalanta refused to sell him to Inter Milan.
Current ETV
Ademola Lookman
F, AM (C)
Atalanta
Ademola Lookman
F, AM (C)
Atalanta
ETV Range
€44.7M - €54.7M
In the end, Lookman stayed for the 2025-26 season as no suitable offers were received by Atalanta.
Although Lookman ended his strike and returned to Bergamo, the situation has been incredible tense.
The Nigerian has been training alone and has not been called up to a matchday squad this season.
There had been reports this weekend that Lookman could return into the fold for Atalanta's home match against Lecce but that door was worryingly slammed shut by manager Ivan Juric in his pre-match press conference.
What did Juric say?
“Ademola will not be ready for tomorrow,” Juric said during his pre-match press conference.
“A truly unpleasant and difficult situation,” he continued. “As a coach, I felt that we needed other things: Spirit, humility, passion for the shirt. We need to do better and also take responsibility. You need a sense of belonging.
“I have a very good relationship with Lookman. But, I shouldn’t have to beg him to play. It works the other way around. We are Atalanta and he represents the city. We need what Atalanta represents: Hard work, humility, these are different values.
“I shouldn’t have to plead to anyone. We’re all convinced that Atalanta needs strong values on a personal level.”
These quotes strengthen the feeling that Lookman will be sold in January, with the Premier League the likely destination.
Tottenham considered a late move for Lookman at the start of this month and could return.
Arsenal were also heavily linked earlier in the window, while Chelsea are still searching for another creative attacker.
Lookman had his heart set on a move to Inter but Atalanta rejected an offer of €42 million plus €3m in add-ons.
The attacker claimed that Atalanta had broken a promise to sell him after the offer was rejected.
Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi then explained that they had promised to sell Lookman this summer to a big club abroad at the right price but not to an Italian club.
Earlier this year, Lookman was crowned African Footballer of the Year and finished 14th in the 2024 Ballon d'Or race after a stunning 2024.
He scored a legendary hattrick for Atalanta in the 3-0 Europa League final victory over Bayer Leverkusen in May 2024.
He hit 27 goal contributions for the season before taking that brilliant form into the 2024/2025 season.
In the first half of last season he was arguably the best player in Serie A, as Atalanta looked a good bet for the Scudetto.
However, together with Atalanta as a whole, Lookman's form dropped off in 2025 but he remains one of the best players in Serie A.
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