Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman is a man in demand as several clubs are queuing up for his signature ahead of next season.
The 26-year-old has had the most productive season of his professional career, as well as gaining international accolades after his heroics with the Super Eagles at the last Africa Cup of Nations, scoring three goals and being named in the Team of the Tournament.
There have been rumors that the Atalanta forward wants to return to England after this current season, putting other clubs in Asia on alert.
Sources in Saudi Arabia told afrik-foot.com that Saudi Pro League giants Al Ittihad have made inquiries about Lookman as they try to rebuild their team for next season after an underwhelming campaign this term.
Al Ittihad are willing to splash the cash to secure his services as uncertainty looms over their star player, Karim Benzema.
Despite the arrival of the French forward and others like N’Golo Kante and Fabinho from England, they haven’t exactly hit the heights they anticipated.
They finished as Saudi champions in the 2022/23 season but are now fifth in the league behind Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Al-Ahli, and Al-Taawoun.
With three games left to the end of the season, Al Hilal have effectively won the league, being 12 points ahead of their nearest rivals, Ronaldo’s Al Nassr.
Al Ittihad are looking to rebuild their squad, with Lookman seen as one of the major players needed to start the process.
Ademola Lookman this season
The Nigerian forward has had a very productive season with the Super Eagles and Serie A side Atalanta.
At the turn of the year, he helped Nigeria reach the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, scoring three goals en route to a podium finish.
Lookman provided the assist for Victor Osimhen’s equaliser in the first group game against Equatorial Guinea. He then scored twice against Cameroon in the Round of 16 and followed it up with another goal in the next game against Angola in the quarter-finals.
His overall play and contribution to Nigeria’s run to the final earned him a spot in CAF’s Team of the Tournament alongside teammates Ola Aina and captain William Troost Ekong.
For Atalanta, he has already helped them reach two cup finals as the Italian side will contest the Coppa Italia final against Juventus as well as the UEFA Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen.
In all competitions, the former Fulham striker has scored 12 goals in 41 games with 8 assists, totaling 20 goal contributions, his best since turning professional.
How much is Lookman worth?
According to multiple sources, Lookman is valued at 33 million dollars, but Saudi clubs have been known to splash the cash, so his valuation will likely not be a problem for them.
A bidding war for Lookman is expected at the end of the season, and even though he has a contract with Atalanta until 2026, it remains to be seen if Atalanta won’t budge in the face of a huge bid from Al Ittihad.
Even though Lookman openly desires a return to the Premier League, the allure of joining the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Fabinho, Seko Fofana, and others might just tempt him to make the leap.
As the transfer speculation increases, Ademola Lookman will be primed for the cup finals in his sight – the Coppa Italia on 25 May against Juventus and the Europa League against Bayer Leverkusen on 22 May.
After that, there is the matter of linking up with the Super Eagles for the resumption of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin in June.
