Football transfer expert , Fabrizio Romano, has disclosed that Seria A giants, Inter Milan have informed their counterparts, Atalanta,about their opening €40m bid for Super Eagles of Nigeria winger, Ademola Lookman, reports Business Today NG.
Romano, however, reports that Atalanta are insisting on a fee of at least €50m.
Lookman wants to leave Atalanta this summer and hopes the club will facilitate his exit.
But the former Europa League champions are maintaining their position of giving no green light to Italian clubs at €40m.
It was also gathered that Inter Milan are considering adding midfielder Kristjan Asllani to their €40m offer for Ademola Lookman as they look to bridge the gap with Atalanta’s valuation of the Nigeria forward.
Inter Milan have already agreed personal terms with Lookman, who is pushing for the move to the San Siro, but their current offer of €45 million falls short of Atalanta’s €60m asking price for clubs within Italy, according to Calciomercato.
Inter are now weighing up including Albanian midfielder Asllani in a player-plus-cash deal that could help meet the asking price and sway negotiations in their favour.
Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio previously reported that Inter “are serious about Lookman” and have “agreement with the player” as they intensify their pursuit of the Super Eagles star.
The 27-year-old enjoyed a standout 2023/24 campaign, scoring 17 goals and playing a decisive role in Atalanta’s UEFA Europa League triumph. His sensational hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen in the final has drawn interest from several top clubs.
He followed that performance up with 20 goals in the 2024/25 campaign.
Atletico Madrid are also eyeing the winger as Diego Simeone looks to reinforce his team’s attack in case of further departures, while Arsenal are reportedly keen on securing his services.
However, Lookman is reportedly eager to join Inter and has already given the green light for the move to the Nerazzurri. New Inter manager Christian Chivu sees the Nigerian as a key component of his revamped attacking structure.
Chivu is reportedly keen on Lookman’s versatility, with the former RB Leipzig and Leicester City winger capable of playing wide on either flank or centrally as a second striker. The Inter boss believes his skillset will offer tactical flexibility alongside Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram in the new season.
It has been a year of exodus for Atalanta, with several key departures reshaping the squad. In early June, former coach Gian Piero Gasperini left the club after several years in charge. Serie A top scorer Mateo Retegui made a big-money move to Saudi side Al-Qadsiah, while promising left-back Matteo Ruggeri completed a transfer to Atletico.
With Inter still on vacation after the Club World Cup, they will want to wrap up the deal quickly to give Chivu reinforcements upfront ahead of the new season.
Despite Atalanta’s higher valuation, Inter’s offer remains fixed at €40m, and club officials have no intention of significantly increasing their bid beyond the player-plus-cash proposal.
Lookman is currently under contract at Atalanta until 2027, but talks between the clubs have begun, with Inter hoping that a previously made promise by Atalanta to allow Lookman leave this summer will be respected.
