- Liverpool have made contact with Atalanta over a potential summer move for Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman
- Lookman has been in top form this season, scoring 17 goals and providing seven assists in 29 appearances
- Atalanta are reportedly open to selling the Nigerian star if they receive offers around €65m (£53.8m)
Premier League side Liverpool have taken concrete steps towards signing Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman as they prepare for life potentially without Mohamed Salah, according to reports.
The Reds have reportedly made contact with Atalanta over a potential summer move for the in-form Nigerian, whose stellar performances in Italy and on the international stage have made him one of Europe’s most sought-after attackers.
Lookman, 27, has been in impressive form this season, racking up 17 goals and seven assists in 29 appearances across all competitions. His impressive displays have caught the attention of several Premier League clubs, with Arsenal, Newcastle United, and Manchester United also monitoring his situation.
However, Liverpool is said to be leading the race, and they view him as a prime candidate to fill the void if Salah departs at the end of the season.
The Nigerian forward's future at Atalanta has been clouded in uncertainty following a reported fallout with manager Gian Piero Gasperini. The tension escalated after Lookman missed a crucial penalty in Atalanta’s Champions League defeat to Club Brugge, prompting criticism from Gasperini.
With growing speculation over his future, the Serie A club is reportedly open to selling their star man if they receive offers in the region of €65m (£53.8m).
Liverpool’s pursuit of Lookman comes as Salah’s future remains uncertain. The Egyptian, whose contract expires in 2025 summer, has yet to agree on a new deal, and Saudi Arabian clubs are expected to make moves for him this summer.
With new sporting director Richard Hughes and head coach Arne Slot planning for possible departures, Lookman has emerged as a strong candidate due to his versatility, goal-scoring prowess, and experience in high-pressure situations.
Since joining Atalanta from RB Leipzig in 2022, Lookman has cemented his place as one of Serie A’s most dangerous forwards, scoring 49 goals and providing 23 assists in 107 appearances.
His heroics last season, which included a stunning hat-trick in Atalanta’s Europa League final triumph over Bayer Leverkusen and a standout performance at AFCON 2024, have only increased his stock.
With Liverpool pushing hard and Atalanta willing to listen to offers, the battle for Lookman’s signature will certainly be one of the summer’s biggest transfer sagas.
Lookman’s strike not enough as Real Madrid edges Atalanta, Ancelotti praises team
Previously, TheRadar reported that Spanish giants Real Madrid reignited their UEFA Champions League campaign hopes with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Ademola Lookman’s Atalanta, overcoming an early injury to star forward Kylian Mbappé.
Lookman’s creativity nearly earned Atalanta a dramatic equaliser in injury time, but substitute Mateo Retegui squandered the golden opportunity, blasting over from six yards out.
