By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
The transfer saga surrounding Nigeria international Ademola Lookman and Atalanta shows no signs of resolution, as the Italian club remains firm in its refusal to sell the Nigerian winger to a Serie A rival.
This stance has sparked interest from other clubs, notably English Premier League side Nottingham Forest.
Forest, managed by Espirito Santo, is reportedly exploring a move to bring Lookman to England, where he would join fellow Nigerians Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi.
However, the English club faces the challenge of meeting Atalanta’s €50 million valuation for the 27-year-old.
Inter Milan remains the frontrunner in the pursuit, despite their recent improved offer of up to €45 million (£32.1 million) — including add-ons — being rejected by Atalanta.
An earlier €40 million bid was also declined as Inter is expected to submit a new proposal aligning with Atalanta’s asking price.
Lookman’s continued absence from Atalanta’s individual training sessions, including a no-show at Tuesday’s session in Zingonia, has intensified speculation of an imminent transfer.
As the transfer window progresses, all eyes will be on whether Nottingham Forest can mount a competitive bid or if Inter Milan will ultimately secure the Nigerian forward.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
