2024 UEFA Europa League winners Atalanta have raised their asking fee for Super Eagles and Inter Milan-linked forward Ademola Lookman, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 27-year-old has scored 52 goals and provided 25 assists in 118 games for La Dea and is adamant his time at Bergamo has come to an end as he attempts to force a move to Inter Milan.
The 20-time Serie A winners have lodged three offers for Lookman, but Atalanta declined all of them, revealing they won’t sell the Super Eagles star to another Italian club.
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Things are now complicated, considering both sides want to part ways, but no offer from abroad has come in for the former RB Leipzig forward.
Atalanta to reconsider Lookman stance
Lookman has cleared out his locker at the club’s dressing room and has refused to participate in training, returning to England to be with his family, as Atalanta have refused to let him have his way.
However, it appears there could be a leeway for all parties to win in this long, drawn-out transfer saga. As per Sportitalia via FCInterNews, La Dea have slapped a €55m price tag on the Nigerian ace.
The Nerazzurri have withdrawn their bid from the negotiation table due to Atalanta’s stubbornness in showing no willingness to grant Inter a discount so far.
The Bergamo side feel they have nothing to lose, considering they’ve secured a replacement for the 2024 CAF Player of the Year.
Atalanta are still looking for another striker in a bid to build squad depth, and have offered €40m to Fulham for Brazilian forward Rodrigo Muniz.
It is expected they’ll return with a higher bid soon, and Marco Silva’s side have opened talks with Sadiq Umar as they search for a replacement.
In relation to Lookman, Inter have made it clear they wouldn’t be submitting an improved offer for the former Everton player, according to Sempre Inter.
Atalanta are unfazed about Lookman’s antics as he attempts to force a move, but his agents are on their way back to Italy to assist Inter in their effort to soften Atalanta’s stance, but the clock is ticking.