Tottenham Hotspur target Ademola Lookman is looking for an early exit from Atalanta amid rising tensions
Tottenham’s summer plans were disrupted during the business end of the transfer window when Heung Min Son announced that he was leaving the club to join the MLS. The South Korean’s move to LAFC set off the search for a new left winger as the Lilywhites scrambled to find a long-term replacement. The North London club wanted a similar profile with a higher ceiling as Son chose to bring his ten-year spell at N17 to an end.
Spurs were linked with several names who were identified as Son’s potential successors under Thomas Frank. They came close to securing Manchester City winger Savinho at one stage, but the deal broke down as the Brazilian chose to remain at the Etihad Stadium and extend his contract. Attention then turned to Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman, who had already submitted a transfer request earlier in the summer.
For one reason or another, the Lilywhites were unable to sign the Nigeria international. It now appears that the North Londoners will get another opportunity to bring in the 28-year-old during the upcoming transfer window. Lookman has fallen down the pecking order at Atalanta following a heated touchline exchange with recently sacked coach Ivan Juric in recent weeks. This has prompted the Serie A side to place him on the transfer list and consider moving him on soon.
Tottenham firmly in the race for Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman’s signature
At this time last year, Ademola Lookman was on the verge of breaking into the top ten of the Ballon D’or rankings after leading Atalanta to their first European trophy. The Nigeria international secured his place in the history books by scoring a hat trick against Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final, helping the Italian club pull off a stunning upset against an unbeaten Leverkusen side.
However, things have not gone as planned for Lookman since then, as he has struggled to rediscover that same spark for Atalanta. His heated confrontation with Ivan Juric earlier last month seems to have been the final breaking point as he now seeks a move away from Italy. Recent reports have linked him with a switch to Spurs as the Lilywhites aim to strengthen their attack for the second half of the campaign.
Signing the 28-year-old will not be straightforward for the North Londoners. According to Ekrem Konur (via X), Galatasaray have also joined the race for his signature and are considering a loan move for the prolific forward. Furthermore, Victor Osimhen’s presence at the Turkish club could also influence Lookman’s decision as he looks for an escape route from Atalanta.
The journalist also reports that Atalanta will only consider offers in the region of €55-60m. Spurs will therefore need to act quickly if they hope to secure Lookman in the coming weeks. The Nigeria international is eager to play abroad and is open to testing himself in a more competitive league if the right project comes along.
It remains uncertain whether Lookman will arrive at N17 in January. Spurs must ensure they do not overpay for the winger, especially as he is already 28 and does not possess a particularly high ceiling. His resale value will also decline in the coming years, making it unlikely that the Lilywhites will be able to turn a profit on him in the future. Even so, it is reasonable to suggest that the Atalanta forward would be a strong fit at N17.
He possesses all the qualities needed to become an immediate starter under Thomas Frank and provide the required cutting edge in the final third. He would offer an upgrade on Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel and make an instant impact as he enters his peak years. Supporters will hope that Tottenham take a sensible approach before making their final decision on pursuing Lookman.
