Nigeria Players Abroad
Rumour Mills: Gasperini unsure of Lookman’s future with Atalanta
By Wale Mustapha
Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini has admitted that he cannot predict whether Ademola Lookman will be a player of the Bergamo club at the end of the transfer window.
The Super Eagles forward was not listed in Le Dea’s team that thrashed Lecce 4-0 in their Italia Serie A opening fixture on Monday night.
The absence of Lookman and Teun Koopmeiners from the match further fueled
speculation surrounding their futures.
While the Nigeria international is attracting concrete interest from Paris Saint-Germain, the Dutchman is heavily linked with a move to Atalanta’s Serie A rivals Juventus.
PSG have identified Lookman as a possible replacement for injured Portuguese forward Concalo Ramos and they have reported to have started talks with Atalanta over a transfer.
Asked about the situations of the duo after the match against Lecce, Gasperini said it’s not in his hands to decide but might be planning life without them.
“I have been given the right guarantees. Nobody expected this situation, which is why I am currently sailing by sight,” the manager was quoted as saying by Tuttosport.
“I don’t know what will happen, but my job is to assemble as much as possible together with the club. It is clear that we will actually have the definition of the squad on August 31st.
“We have an undoubtedly solid team structure, from defense to midfield, with players who have been at Atalanta for years, guaranteeing a quality of play that is always competitive.”
Lookman joined Atalanta in 2022 from Bundesliga side, RB Leipzig and has scored 32 goals, assisting 18 in 79 appearances in all competitions for the Italian side.
