Inter Milan, 20-time winners of the Italian Serie A, are preparing to send a final offer for Ademola Lookman, according to multiple sources.
The 27-year-old Nigerian forward, who plays for Atalanta, also wants the move to Inter, who were finalists in the 2025 UEFA Champions League. However, Atalanta are making the deal difficult.
Inter first tried to get Lookman on loan with an option to buy. They later offered €40 million, but Atalanta rejected both offers and are asking for €50 million.
Tensions Between Lookman and Atalanta
Lookman has officially asked to leave the club and has also shared his frustrations on social media about how he’s been treated.
Atalanta claim they had a “gentleman’s agreement” with Lookman last season, but it only allowed him to move to a foreign club, not another Italian team like Inter.
Inter to Match Asking Price
Reports from Gazzetta dello Sport say Inter are ready to match Atalanta’s €50 million demand. This would make Lookman their fifth signing of the summer.
Inter’s final offer will likely include bonus payments to reach the full amount. But Atalanta may still reject it because they prefer to sell him outside Italy.
Lookman Skips Training to Push for Move
Lookman has now missed training as part of his effort to force the move to Inter’s San Siro Stadium.
His contract at Atalanta runs until 2027, but keeping an unhappy player could hurt the team. If Atalanta don’t sell him this summer, they might miss the chance to get a good fee for him.
Also, as players get older, their market value usually goes down. While Lookman is still performing well, there’s no guarantee he’ll keep it up in future seasons.
Should Atalanta Sell to a Rival?
Selling Lookman to Inter would mean strengthening a direct rival, which Atalanta want to avoid. It would also break the agreement they say they had with Lookman.
However, for both sides, it may be best to go separate ways this summer.
One possible solution could be to include a clause in the deal saying Lookman can’t play against Atalanta if he joins Inter.