Inter Milan recently showed strong interest in Ademola Lookman, Atalanta Bergamo’s Nigerian forward, by making a significant bid during the summer transfer window.
According to several Italian media outlets, the Nerazzurri submitted an opening offer of €40 million plus €5 million in bonuses in an attempt to convince Atalanta to part with their offensive gem. This substantial amount underlined the Lombard club’s ambition to strengthen their attack with a player who stood out last season.
Despite these efforts, Atalanta has remained firm, demanding a higher fee of around €50 million, which led to the rejection of Inter’s first proposal. The situation has created a standoff between the two clubs, further complicated by Lookman himself, who publicly expressed his desire to leave, even skipping training sessions with Atalanta in early August. While this put pressure on his current club, it was not enough to sway the management.
More recently, Inter Milan decided to pause negotiations for Lookman. Facing other priorities such as reinforcing the midfield and defense, the club has put off making any new significant offers, choosing instead to focus on those areas. This step back has made the Lookman deal uncertain, especially as other clubs are now entering the race.
Indeed, Napoli has intensified its interest in the Nigerian winger and is reportedly ready to table a more generous offer worth €52 million. Such a move could change the dynamics in Italy and definitively take Lookman out of Inter’s reach. Confronted with rising prices and Atalanta’s strict demands, Inter Milan now seems ready to step away, marking a turning point in one of the most closely followed transfer sagas of the Italian summer window.