Coach Gian Piero Gasperini has acknowledged that the potential transfers of Europa League final hat-trick hero Ademola Lookman to Paris Saint-Germain and Teun Koopmeiners to Juventus have left La Dea (The Goddess) in a state of disarray.
Both Lookman and Koopmeiners were absent during Atalanta’s 4-0 defeat of Lecce in their Serie A opener. Gasperini admitted that the ongoing transfer uncertainty surrounding the two players has unsettled the Europa Cup holders. “No-one expected to be in this situation,” Gasperini told Sky Sport after Monday’s match.
“I have to play it by ear right now… I don’t know what’s going to happen in the coming 10 days but our job is to build as much as we can.”
Before Monday’s win against Lecce, Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi expressed wiliness
reconciliation with the want-away pair, adding the ‘players remain Atalanta’s properties.’
“Our idea is that for the first time in our history to not let our big players go,” Percassi told Sky Sport. “We can’t wait for this transfer window to close.”
As earlier reported, PSG has made an offer of 4.5 million euros for the Nigeria international.
Meanwhile, Premier League heavyweights, Liverpool and Arsenal are reportedly mulling over a late move for red-hot Lookman.
According to a report by Graeme Bailey on TBR Football, Lookman is the subject of interest from Liverpool.
The Reds are weighing up a late move for the Atalanta attacker as they look to complete their first signing of the summer transfer window.
Meanwhile, Arsenal is also “informed on the situation” surrounding the 26-year-old versatile forward.
The Nigerian has resurrected his stuttering career since joining Atalanta from RB Leipzig in August 2022. A native of London, he spent his formative years in England and represented the country in age-group football but has chosen Nigeria as his national side.
Liverpool’s interest in Lookman is understandable. The Reds are keen on signing a versatile attacker in the summer transfer window amid uncertainties surrounding the long-term futures of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, and Luis Diaz.
So, Lookman is a viable target for Liverpool.
As for Arsenal, the report has claimed that intermediaries are keeping them in the loop on Lookman’s situation.
The productive attacker can be a top-notch addition to the Arsenal squad due to his ability to play across the frontline.
However, Arsenal must step up to beat Liverpool to Lookman’s signature, with the Merseyside club mulling over a late move for the 26-year-old Europa League winner. It will be interesting to see where he plies his trade next season.