By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Atalanta are reportedly monitoring Galatasaray winger Yunus Akgün as a potential replacement for Nigerian international Ademola Lookman, whose future at the club remains in doubt.
According to FootItalia, the Serie A side could accelerate their interest in Akgün ahead of the January transfer window, as uncertainty continues to surround Lookman’s long-term commitment to the Bergamo-based club.
Lookman, valued at approximately €40 million, was briefly sidelined earlier this season after expressing a desire to leave, with Atalanta rejecting multiple offers—most notably from Inter Milan.
Although he has since returned to the squad, speculation persists about his readiness to move on, possibly as early as January.
Atalanta are understood to be preparing for a potential departure and view Akgün as a viable successor.
The 23-year-old Turkish international, currently playing for Galatasaray, has impressed with his pace, technical skill, and versatility across the front line.
With the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and AFCON looming, Atalanta are eager to maintain depth in their attacking options. Bringing in Akgün could help ensure squad stability in the event Lookman departs either mid-season or in the summer.
The move signals Atalanta’s intent to stay ahead of potential transfer developments, as they continue to compete on multiple fronts in Serie A and European competitions.
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.
