The future of Ademola Lookman at Atalanta remains unresolved after the reigning African Footballer of the Year was unable to secure a move before the close of the summer transfer window.

Lookman, who has yet to feature for Atalanta this season following a public fallout with the club, attracted interest from Europe's elite during the summer window.

Inter Milan pushed strongly for his signature, while Bayern Munich also explored the possibility of signing the Nigeria international.

Inter Milan submitted a bid in the region of €42 million plus €3 million in bonuses, but Atalanta stood firm, refusing to part with their key attacker.

The Bergamo-based outfit insisted they would not sanction a sale to a Serie A rival, regardless of the financial package.

Italian journalist Fabrizio Biasin has dismissed talk of a January move for Lookman, noting that his likely involvement in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations would make a winter transfer impractical.

"He definitely won't leave in January because they have the African Cup of Nations," Basin said t FCInter1908.

"I'd tend to rule that out. When Atalanta rejected Inter's €42 million + €3 million offer, Atalanta didn't say 'we want more.' 

"They said we won't sell him to Italy. This is legitimate, and Percassi hasn't changed his mind, and I doubt he will. 

"He'll probably lose money on Lookman, even a lot, but he can always tell the fans he kept his word."

Despite his lack of minutes at club level, Ademola Lookman was named in Nigeria’s starting XI for their 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and South Africa.

He is unlikely to be included in Atalanta's travelling squad for their UEFA Champions League opener against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday evening.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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