Atlético Madrid are not giving up in the race to sign Super Eagles winger Ademola Lookman, as the Spanish side step up efforts to finalise a move before the transfer window shuts.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Atlético have agreed a €40m deal with Atalanta, with payment terms also sorted. While Atalanta previously had a verbal agreement with Fenerbahçe, fresh reports indicate the Bergamo club now prefer Atlético’s offer.
Lookman’s transfer situation had initially appeared to be heading in the direction of Turkey, after Fenerbahçe pushed strongly for his signature and secured a verbal agreement with Atalanta. The Turkish giants also made significant progress on the player’s side, agreeing personal terms on a four-year contract worth around €9 million per season, including bonuses.
As of Saturday morning, reports suggested the Nigerian international was only interested in joining Fenerbahçe, with the move widely seen as the most likely outcome.
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However, the negotiations between Fenerbahçe and Atalanta soon hit complications over the structure of the deal. Atalanta reportedly demanded installments backed by bank guarantees, while also insisting on receiving 50% of the total fee upfront. Fenerbahçe, on the other hand, preferred to pay €10 million immediately, a gap that slowed progress and created an opening for other suitors.
Atlético Madrid moved quickly to take advantage of the situation, advancing their interest and pushing their proposal forward. Their growing confidence has now been backed up by transfer expert Matteo Moretto, who confirmed that Lookman is now open to the idea of joining Atlético, with the club currently working to agree personal terms with him in the coming hours.
Atlético head coach Diego Simeone is also believed to be fully on board with the move and is expected to speak directly with the 28-year-old to outline how he would fit into the team, as the club look to complete the deal as soon as possible.
With Atlético still pushing and an agreement with Atalanta done, attention turns to the final stages of negotiations, particularly Lookman’s contract terms and whether Fenerbahçe will make a late push to regain control of the transfer.
For now, the winger’s decision remains crucial as he weighs up the best option for his future, with the coming hours expected to be decisive in determining where he plays next.
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