Alfredo Pedulla reports that Arsenal are showing an interest in Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman, willing to offer €50m (£42.5m) plus bonuses for the player.
Pedulla adds that there’s also the possibility of the Gunners including Jakub Kiwior in the deal, with Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini interested in signing the defender.
But Atalanta are reportedly asking for €65-70m (~£55-60m) for the sale, and Liverpool are also in the mix for the player, with Atalanta themselves also looking to extend his contract.
Pedulla added that Lookman didn’t show up for training on Wednesday, having also missed Atalanta’s last match on Monday, though he did return to training on Thursday.
It’s not clear whether or not that absence was related to a potential transfer.
This rumour is probably one to treat with caution, given Lookman and Atalanta are in contract negotiations. It’s common for transfer rumours to mysteriously appear and disappear when a player’s agent is trying to secure their client a wage increase.
On the other hand, Lookman is coming off the back of a strong season, Arsenal could use a versatile forward, and Kiwior genuinely could act as a makeweight in a potential deal. So don’t rule it out entirely.
Lookman scored 17 goals and assisted 10 in 45 games last season, playing various roles across the front line. He can operate as a striker or as a left-winger.
The 26-year-old’s standout moment last season was the Europa League final, in which he scored a hat-trick against unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen to secure his team the trophy. He also scored vital goals in the last-16 and semi-final second-leg matches.
Whether he stays at Atalanta or not, he’ll be transferring those talents to the Champions League this season.