Atalanta have rejected another Inter Milan bid for Ademola Lookman, turning down an offer worth €42m plus €3m in add-ons as they continue to hold out for their full €50m asking price.
According to Fabrizio Romano on Friday, Atalanta informed Inter of their decision to reject the latest proposal, which came after an initial €40m bid was also turned down.
The Nigeria international has agreed personal terms with the Nerazzurri and is determined to make the move to San Siro, but Atalanta remain unmoved by Inter’s improved offers.
La Dea have made it clear they want the full €50m asking price for Lookman, even if that figure includes performance-related bonuses. The club’s stance is partly influenced by their obligation to pay RB Leipzig 10 per cent of the profit up to €20m and 15 per cent above that figure, as part of Lookman’s original transfer from the German club.
Transfer expert Alfredo Pedullà has suggested that Atalanta would be swayed by €45m fixed fee plus €5m in add-ons, but Inter appear to have reached their limit and are not ready to make an improved bid.
The Serie A giants are now expected to turn towards other targets, whilst Premier League clubs are aware of the fee needed to convince Atalanta into a sale.
Meanwhile, Lookman was left out of Atalanta’s squad for their friendly against RB Leipzig in Germany on Saturday (today), with the club citing both a calf injury suffered two weeks ago and ongoing transfer negotiations as reasons for his absence.
The 27-year-old joined Atalanta in a €10.8m deal from RB Leipzig in 2022 and has scored 52 goals in 118 games for the Bergamo-based club. He was instrumental in Gian Piero Gasperini’s Europa League-winning side in 2024, scoring a hat-trick in the final.
The current African Footballer of the Year winner must now wait to learn his fate as the transfer saga between the two Serie A clubs continues, with Inter seemingly unwilling to meet Atalanta’s valuation.
