In the final stretch of the summer transfer session, Atalanta striker Ademola was heavily linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain. The 26-year-old even remained on the sidelines while his future was being decided.
But was the Nigerian truly on the cusp of joining the Ligue 1 champions, or was it an unlikely transfer from the get-go? TuttoMercatoWeb reveals the background of the story, and how the whole saga played out.
As the source explains, Atalanta would have been happy to sell the former RB Leipzig star for around €25 million back in March. However, the player’s valuation certainly changed on the back of a sensational ending of the campaign.
Lookman had often been an influential player at Gian Piero Gasperini’s court, but he finally took his game up a notch in the decisive part of the season, especially in the club’s triumphant Europa League campaign.
The striker’s heroics in the grand finale in Dublin will remain carved in La Dea’s history until the end of times. After all, it was his fabulous hattrick that yielded the club’s first-ever European trophy, while putting a shocking end to Bayer Leverkusen’s season-long undefeated streak.
Why Atalanta Didn’t Sell Lookman to PSG
Afterwards, the Bergamo-based side adopted a new stance regarding Lookman: The player can only leave for a substantial offer. The source mentions a valuation between 50 and 55 million euros.
As for PSG, they were reportedly seeking a new attacking profile who can play in wide roles like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia instead of a pure centre-forward in the mold of Victor Osimhen. Therefore, Lookman’s agents decided to pounce on the opportunity, offering the services of the versatile Nigerian attacker.
But while the Parisians thought they could secure the player’s services on the low, Atalanta showcased their resilience by rejecting the offer and insisting on their price tag, similar to their stance in the lengthy soap opera that eventually saw Teun Koopmeiners join Juventus.
Lookman had asked the club to keep him on the shelf while awaiting the outcome of the negotiations in order to avoid injuries. But by the end of the summer transfer session, the striker rejoined Gasperini’s ranks, and immediately proved his worth for the cause by leading the Orobici to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Fiorentina.
Hence, the London native was our Top Player from Serie A Round 4. He also produced the best assist and scored the finest goal of the Italian weekend, at least in our humble opinion.