Arsenal, Inter in €50m tug-of-war for wantaway Nigerian star Ademola Lookman

By Dayo Awoniyi

Arsenal and Inter Milan are locked in a fierce transfer battle for reigning African Player of the Year Ademola Lookman, with both clubs reportedly prepared to meet Atalanta’s €50 million valuation for the in-demand winger.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Arsenal are preparing a formal offer as manager Mikel Arteta looks to reinforce his attack ahead of the new Premier League season. Nigerian international Lookman has emerged as a more realistic target compared to high-profile names such as Real Madrid’s Rodrygo and Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze.

Inter Milan, long-time admirers of Lookman, are also not backing down. The Serie A champions are reportedly set to submit a fourth bid after seeing three earlier offers rejected. Their latest proposal is expected to match Atalanta’s €50 million price tag, including performance-based add-ons.

The situation escalated further this week following reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport that Lookman has missed recent training sessions in a bid to force a move. Some sources even claim the Super Eagles star has left Bergamo — and potentially Italy — to push for a transfer before the window closes.

Atalanta, who signed Lookman from RB Leipzig in 2022, are standing firm on their valuation. The 26-year-old’s stock has soared after a stellar 2023/24 campaign, which saw him score a memorable hat-trick in the UEFA Europa League final and become one of Europe’s most exciting attacking talents.

For Arsenal, the addition of Lookman would offer pace, flair, and positional flexibility across the front line — qualities Arteta is keen to add as the Gunners prepare for another Premier League title challenge and a return to the Champions League.

Inter, meanwhile, view Lookman as a perfect fit to bolster their attacking flanks, as they aim to retain the Scudetto and make a deeper push in Europe.

With both clubs willing to match Atalanta’s demands, the final outcome may hinge on the player’s personal preference and which project he finds more convincing.

As the transfer window enters its decisive weeks, the Lookman saga is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing stories of the summer. The Nigerian star is ready to move — the only question is whether his next destination will be North London or Milan.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career 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.

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