Manchester United are reportedly chasing Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman, who is expected to leave the Serie A club this summer after a public spat with manager Gian Piero Gasperini. Ruben Amorim is eyeing attacking reinforcements at the end of the season, with Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Christian Eriksen all likely to leave Old Trafford.
United are thought to be prioritising a new striker to ease Rasmus Hojlund's goalscoring burden, as Amorim prefers Joshua Zirkzee in attacking midfield. However, the Red Devils will also need to bolster elsewhere in the attack if there are multiple departures as planned, and Lookman has emerged as an option. According to CaughtOffside, as many as seven Premier League clubs are keen to bring him back to the English top flight this summer.
Lookman started his career at Charlton Athletic before joining Everton in 2017, but his Goodison Park career didn't go as planned.
The 27-year-old recorded just four goals and two assists in 48 appearances for Everton before leaving for RB Leipzig.
He then similarly struggled at Leicester City and Fulham on loan from the Bundesliga club and left permanently for Atalanta in 2022.
Lookman has exploded since, plundering 50 goals and providing 22 assists in 110 games for the Serie A outfit.
The Nigerian's output has increased by the season, contributing 18 goals and seven assists in 32 outings this term.
Now, the report claims that United join Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur in the race for his signature.
Barcelona are also believed to be in the frame, reportedly contacting Lookman's representatives to initiate a deal, but the La Liga giants' financial limitations could prevent a swoop.
Atalanta are said to value Lookman in the region of £55m, and Atletico Madrid and Juventus have also been credited with an interest.
He appears destined for a departure after his boss, Gasperini, publicly slaughtered him for a penalty miss during Atalanta's 3-1 defeat to Club Brugge in the Champions League knockout play-off.
Lookman scored the Italian side's only goal of the night but Simon Mignolet denied his spot-kick as Brugge progressed to the round of 16 with a 5-2 aggregate victory.
"Lookman was not supposed to take that penalty. He is one of the worst penalty takers I've ever seen," Gasperini ranted after full-time.
The ex-Premier League star didn't let his dressing down go unanswered, posting a lengthy statement on Instagram sharing his disappointment at the coach's behaviour.
That incident may have helped set him on course to return to England later this year, and United are reportedly in the running.