Atalanta have informed Paris Saint-Germain that they must pay at least €40m to secure the services of Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman.
The Serie A club is said to be furious with PSG for bypassing them and directly approaching the player with a lucrative offer that more than doubles his current salary.
Lookman, who played a pivotal role in Atalanta’s Europa League triumph last season by scoring a hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen, was absent from the squad for Monday’s Serie A clash against Lecce.
Reports suggest the Nigeria international requested to be left out in a bid to force a move away from Bergamo.
While several Saudi Pro League clubs have expressed interest, PSG are believed to be the driving force behind Lookman’s desire to leave.
According to Calciomercato.com, the French giants have offered him a contract worth €4.5m per season, significantly higher than his current €1.9m earnings at Atalanta.
Atalanta are however upset with PSG’s failure to formally approach the club before engaging the player, a situation reminiscent of their ongoing issues with Juventus over midfielder Teun Koopmeiners.
With time running out to find a replacement and the growing interest in Lookman, Atalanta are determined not to entertain any bids below €40m.
Lookman’s absence from Atalanta’s squad is a significant blow for coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who was counting on the forward’s contributions this season. The club is already dealing with the potential departure of Koopmeiners and injuries to key attackers like Gianluca Scamacca and Nicolo Zaniolo.
Since joining Atalanta for €9.35m plus bonuses from RB Leipzig in 2022, Lookman has been in fine form for the Black and Blues, scoring a total of 32 goals with 18 assists in 79 competitive appearances. His standout performance in the UEFA Europa League final, where he scored all three goals in the Italian side’s win over Bayer Leverkusen, etched his name in European football history.
Atalanta initially slapped a €70m price tag on Lookman earlier in the transfer window, a figure that mirrored the sum they received for Rasmus Højlund’s transfer to Manchester United.
However, with the window nearing its end, they are reportedly willing to negotiate closer to €40m. The club’s financial stance remains firm as they prepare for the likelihood of losing their most prized asset.
Lookman, who turns 27 in October, was born in England but represents Nigeria at the international level.