Inter Milan have reportedly had an informal agreement with Nigeria international Ademola Lookman.
But the Nerazzurri must first satisfy Atalanta’s demands for the reigning African Player of the Year before a deal can proceed.
According to Corriere dello Sport on Wednesday morning confirmed that Lookman is now a ‘priority’ for Inter as they look to strengthen their forward line following the exits of Joaquin Correa and Marko Arnautovic at the end of the 2024-25 season.
Inter have been informed that Atalanta are seeking a fee in the region of €50m for the reigning African Player of the Year, but reports indicated that Inter are hoping to strike a deal for a sum in the region of €40m instead.
Now, according to Sky Sport Italia (via Football Italia) Inter already have the basis of an agreement with Lookman in place on personal terms, but that is redundant if the club are unable to come to an agreement with Atalanta over a transfer fee.
Also Read: Cassano: Lookman Will Be Perfect Replacement For Kvaratskhelia At Napoli
In a boost for Inter, Sky detailed that the former Serie A champions are willing to invest €40m up front, which does not require any other first-team players to be sold beforehand.
Wednesday’s update claimed that Chelsea’s French forward Christopher Nkunku, Juventus’s Nico Gonzalez and Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho are among the alternative attacking options for the Nerazzurri this summer.
Lookman bagged a hat-trick in the 2023/2024 Europa League final as Atalanta thrashed Bayer Leverkusen 3-0.
It was Atalanta’s first-ever European trophy as they inflicted a first defeat on Leverkusen who had gone unbeaten heading into tjr final.
By James Agberebi
2 Comments
Congrats in advance to Lookman. Hopefully, the deal sails through.
Which begs the question: What exactly is holding up Osimhen’s move? The September 1 transfer deadline is fast drawing close.
Nigerian fans are not really impressed with the purported Galatasaray move or the Saudi offers. And Osimhen himself has been mute through all the drama.
Could it be, as Ugo theorized, that Napoli has paid agents to scandalize and de-market Osimhen and force him to accept the Saudi move?
Why are people so bothered about Osimhen’s next move when even he himself is so relaxed and unperturbed…….LMAOoooo
Scandalized, de-marketed…..whatever theories people wanna put out there, the fact is that he is wanted, but he isn’t ready to be disrespected with peanuts…..If you can’t pay me what I currently earn or above it, then just let me be. Go for whichever alternative player you wish to sign. It’s that simple.
Transfers are a 2-way road, now watched with CCTV cameras these days by FFP rules too. There has to be buyer to seller consensus and buyer to player agreement for transfers to take place.
75m for a player in the last year of his contract and net pay of 250k per week for 3 to 4 years is not a straightforward financial decision for clubs with a structured financing regime. If you haven’t freed up enough budget from your current squad, you might as well not dabble into such commitment; otherwise, UEFA’s hammer will come knocking subsequently. Its a massive financial overlay in the long run. And even Napoli is not just surprised but also suspicious of where Galatasaray got such money that they have purported a 3rd party club in Italy is part-financing the move with Gala so Osimhen can return to Italy after a season, something similar to how Carlos Tevez got into the EPL with Westham only to end up at Man U a season after.
As a matter of fact, in the current negotiations, Napoli are even forcibly inserting a 20% outright sell-on clause (not on profit, but actual sale) as if Victor is some 20-year-old youngster and an order he can’t be resold to a Serie A club…..a clear indication they know how valuable the lad can be and that he can never lack suitors under normal conditions.
So I really don’t understand all this fuss. Why are people desperate on behalf of Osimhen…….LMAOoo…..more like crying more than the bereaved.
The boy is so chilled as his entire transfer unfolds. He’s standing his ground and not allowing himself to be bullied…..even with the deceitful olive branch Napoli was offering. He knows it was just another gimmick to extend the current contract. He himself told the club he would rather sit out being in the first team and continue digging a 250k hole every week in their pocket and leave for free should they not allow the move to Galatasaray.
So really, whats the qualms?
We should be worried about our other players who are worth way less than Osimhen yet struggling to secure decent moves that do not belittle them.