Ademola Lookman Arsenal Emirates Stadium
Arsenal FC Emirates Stadium
Multiple Premier League clubs have already shown an interest in Ademola Lookman, and according to reports, Arsenal have become the latest club to join this bandwagon.
Lookman’s current contract with Atalanta expires next year, but it has a one-year extension which will keep him at the club until the summer of 2027. Atalanta are in no hurry to offload him, but if they receive a bid of around €60 million, they will be happy to let him go.
In the Premier League, Manchester United, Newcastle and Liverpool have all shown an interest in the winger, and outside of England, Juventus are keen to sign him.
Do Juventus have a chance of keeping him in the Serie A?
Juventus have been keeping tabs on Ademola Lookman for some time and according to the rumours, they are willing to offer Douglas Luiz plus €13 million for his services. However, Atalanta want a cash-only deal which currently pushes Juventus down the pecking order.
Unless Juventus are willing to meet Atalanta’s current demands, they have a very slim chance of landing the forward.
Why do Arsenal want to sign Ademola Lookman?
During the ongoing season, Lookman has been primarily used as a second striker, but the 27-year-old is also capable of playing as a winger, and Arsenal want to sign him as a backup to Bukayo Saka on the right wing.
Bukayo Saka has done exceptionally well, scoring 97 goals and providing 80 assists during his senior career at Arsenal. But on the right-hand side, he is doing all the hard work himself and it’s not long before a long-term injury disrupts his career.
Mikel Arteta is eager to divide the workload on the side of the pitch, which is why he is looking at someone like Ademola Lookman who can come in and play in tandem with Saka next season.
Will the 27-year-old consider a move to the Emirates Stadium?
Ademola Lookman has had three full seasons with Atalanta and in every campaign he scored 15 or more goals for the Italian club. This campaign he’s netted 19 and provided 6 assists in 38 games across all competitions and he’s been a regular starter for the Serie A side. Lookman won’t mind going back to the Premier League, but there’s no way he will be willing to be a benchwarmer next season.
Apart from being a second striker, Ademola Lookman can play on either wing, and if Mikel Arteta wants him to replace Gabriel Martinelli on the left-hand side, then Arsenal can make a case for themselves, but there is no way they can convince the player to be a backup to Bukayo Saka. For someone who has an xG of 9.99 and an xA of 7.52 deserves to play each and every matchweek and he will have a much better chance of achieving that with clubs like Manchester United and Newcastle United.
rArsenal won’t mind paying €60 million for such a fine talent but unless they can convince Ademola Lookman of his importance and guarantee him regular starts, the Gunners won’t be able to move up the pecking order in this transfer race.