Atalanta President rules out Lookman sale in January transfer window

Atalanta President Antonio Percassi has firmly stated that Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman will not be sold during the January transfer window, despite interest from top European clubs.

Lookman has become one of the most in-demand players in Europe following his impressive performances with Atalanta last season and a strong start to the current campaign. The 2024 CAF Player of the Year nominee recently scored a stoppage-time match-winner against AC Milan, bringing his tally to eight goals and four assists in 12 Serie A matches, and 10 goals and five assists in 17 games across all competitions this season.

Atalanta has been working on a contract extension for the 27-year-old, whose current deal runs until 2026. However, ahead of the January transfer window, President Percassi has reiterated the club’s position on Lookman’s future.

“Our plan is not to change anything in the January window,” Percassi said.

Reports suggest that Lookman’s proposed contract extension includes a significant salary increase, as Atalanta aims to keep him in Bergamo for as long as possible.

Despite heavy interest from top clubs such as PSG, Manchester United, and Real Madrid, Lookman appears focused on Atalanta’s goals. With their win over AC Milan, Atalanta temporarily moved to the top of the Serie A table with 34 points, two ahead of Napoli, and are also performing well in the Champions League. Lookman has emphasized the importance of sticking together, signaling his intent to remain at the club at least until the end of the season.

“It’s a very important game against a very strong team that is doing well in the League. We performed well, three big points and we continue like this,” Lookman told Sky Italia.

“I think we just continue to play the way we play, match by match. We believe in ourselves as a team, so we continue like this and stay together.”

Atalanta have set a €60-€70m price tag on Ademola Lookman, a valuation that PSG and Manchester United both find reasonable given his impressive talent.

Lookman’s rise since his €15m move to Atalanta in 2022 has been extraordinary. The 27-year-old forward made a major impact last season, scoring a historic hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, becoming the first player to achieve such a feat in a European Cup final.

His remarkable performances also earned him a 14th-place finish in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings, along with nominations for prestigious awards, including CAF Men’s Player of the Year and the Globe Soccer Awards’ Best Men’s Player.