Atalanta co-owner Stephen Pagliuca has opened talks with Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman to convince him to sign a contract extension, Soccernet.ng reports.
Lookman has been impressive since he joined Atalanta from RB Leipzig for €9.35 million two years ago. The Nigerian forward had spent the previous five years constantly on the move, as he had stints at Leicester City, Everton, and RB Leipzig. But he settled in nicely at Atalanta in his first campaign.
However, it was last season that he caught the attention of top clubs in Europe, following his hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen in the final of the UEFA Europa League.
He was on the radar of top clubs like PSG and Arsenal, but they failed to pry him away from Atalanta.
This season, Lookman has continued from where he left off, as he has produced three goals and three assists in nine appearances. In fact, he has arguably been Atalanta’s best player of the campaign. And if he continues with his current form, there is a high possibility that some big clubs will come for him again in the summer.
Currently, Atalanta still have the advantage in any negotiations because Lookman’s contract ends in 2026, and there is the option of a one-year extension.
However, that advantage will be gone by the end of the campaign. As such, they are making moves to extend his stay. According to TuttoAtalanta, the clubs co-owner Pagliuca, who also owns a major stake in NBA club Boston Celtics has personally taken up the issue and is trying to lure Lookman to pen a new deal.
As it stands, Lookman has not showed that he is interested in a new contract. But it is unlikely that he will remain at the club beyond next summer.