Atletico Madrid are eyeing an old target: Ademola Lookman, one of Atalanta's main protagonists in Serie A.
The Nigerian has been one of Atletico's targets this summer due to his outstanding performance in Bergamo.
The club attempted to secure his transfer last summer, but negotiations with the Italian club failed due to a firm refusal from Bergamo's management.
However, in the January transfer window, Atletico's interest is returning.
Lookman has established himself as a dynamic striker with goalscoring ability. His speed, dribbling and attacking talent make him a good fit for Diego Simeone's system, which always needs a player to break through the lines and provide attacking solutions.
The Argentine coach sees him as a key piece to strengthen the attacking department, which lacks viable alternatives beyond Antoine Griezmann.
The main obstacle will be the price. Atalanta are aware of the growing interest in their star player and have made it clear that they will not let him go at any cost.
The transfer value could exceed 60 million euros, a considerable sum for Atletico who are facing economic difficulties.
However, Metropolitano believe that the investment could be worthwhile given his mature age and proven experience in leagues such as the Premier League and Serie A.
Lookman's rise in Italy has been meteoric. Since joining Atalanta, the Nigerian forward has become an attacking reference, achieving outstanding scoring figures and showing a consistency that was previously lacking at clubs such as Leicester City or RB Leipzig. This rise has attracted the interest of several European clubs, but Atletico are aiming to prevent others from doing so and act in the winter transfer window.
Furthermore, signing Lookman would send an ambitious message from the board to the fans. The Wanda Metropolitano has long been in need of top-level reinforcements, and this move could be the final straw to keep the team competitive in the league and the Champions League. Strengthening the wingers is a priority, as Simeone has stressed the need for more options in this area.
The outcome of this story will largely depend on Atalanta's willingness to negotiate and Atletico's ability to carry out such a major operation. For now, one thing is certain: Ademola Lookman's name is back at the top of the colchoneros' agenda./Express newspaper/
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