By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Arsenal have reportedly reignited their interest in Nigerian winger Ademola Lookman, but face a significant challenge in Atalanta’s €60 million asking price.
The reigning CAF Player of the Year has attracted attention from several top European clubs this summer, with reports suggesting he is open to a return to the Premier League. According to AFTV Media, the Gunners have held preliminary talks with Lookman’s representatives over a potential move to the Emirates.
Although the player is said to be open to a switch back to England, negotiations with Atalanta could prove complex. Newly appointed Atalanta manager Ivan Jurić is eager to retain the Super Eagles forward, who played a key role in the club’s UEFA Europa League triumph in 2023.
Lookman, 26, remains under contract with the Serie A side, and no official statement has been made by his camp regarding his future. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is reportedly assessing attacking options despite the club already boasting a deep forward line.
While no formal bid has been submitted, Arsenal are expected to continue exploring the possibility of signing Lookman in the coming weeks, depending on Atalanta’s willingness to negotiate.
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.
