What could we expect if Lookman moves to Inter from Atalanta?

Inter have reached an agreement with Ademola Lookman, who has decided to move to Milan, but the negotiation with Atalanta remains complicated due to the fee that exceeds 40 million euros. On the tactical front, the Nigerian presents himself as an ideal profile for one of the dynamic offensive modules imagined by manager Cristian Chivu.

Inter have broken the deadlock - an agreement on personal terms has been reached with Lookman, a concrete target to reinforce the Nerazzurri attack.

The player, already intent on leaving Atalanta for some time, reiterated his willingness to move as soon as the interest of the Viale della Liberazione club materialised. But the negotiation promises to be anything but smooth.

The sticking point

The Bergamo club's request, in fact, exceeds 40 million euros - a high valuation, especially considering that it refers to a possible transfer to a direct competitor in Serie A. For abroad, the figure could be smaller.

A clear signal from Antonio Percassi: Lookman will only leave on favourable terms, and Atalanta do not want to strengthen a rival without a significant financial return.

Ademola Lookman's Serie A season statsOpta by StatsPerform / Mairo Cinquetti / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP

Inter, aware of the difficulties, have no intention of forcing the pace. Strong in the player's yes and his desire to wear the Nerazzurri jersey, the Inter management is ready to continue the tug-of-war with patience, hoping that Atalanta's position will soften.

It is also expected that the offer will be structured with bonuses linked to performance and results, in an attempt to bring the Bergamo demands closer without compromising the club's financial balance.

Meanwhile, Lookman has taken a position: he wants Inter - a message he has delivered clearly to his current club.

Is Lookman the right profile for Chivu's Inter?

With the arrival of Chivu on the Nerazzurri bench, Inter are preparing to renew themselves, without upsetting the tactical identity built up over recent years. The width guaranteed by the players and the concentration in the central area of the pitch will remain fixed points, but it is in the attacking department that the most significant changes could emerge.

Already during the Club World Cup in the United States, the Romanian coach gave a glimpse of the idea of a more fluid and dynamic attack: on the one hand, the possibility of flanking two second strikers to a central point, on the other, the possibility of deploying Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram more forward, linked to the midfield by a mobile trequartista capable of moving between the lines and pulling the strings.

There is space, then, for tactical imagination. The most suggestive hypothesis is a 3-4-2-1, a module that would favour the natural positioning of Lookman on the centre-left, with the freedom to move into the centre of the pitch to attack the depth or interact with teammates.

In this configuration, however, one of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Davide Frattesi or new signing Petar Sucic could lose their spot, in favour of a more unpredictable attack.

Alternatively, Chivu could opt for a 3-4-1-2, with Lookman employed in the trequartista role, free to move around the entire frontline. It is a role that requires great tactical intelligence, but which suits his characteristics perfectly.

In the case of Chivu preferring to remain faithful to the classic 3-5-2, Lookman would become a luxury rotation resource, able to alternate with Thuram or Lautaro in the most intense periods of the season, guaranteeing quality, speed and different offensive solutions.

Valuable resource

The Nigerian forward has already shown full familiarity with similar tactical contexts, perfectly interpreting the role in the flexible trident designed by Gian Piero Gasperini. Together with Charles De Ketelaere and Mateo Retegui, Lookman created a mobile and unpredictable attack, made of continuous rotations, position exchanges and deep attacks. A mix of quality and intelligent readings that made him one of the main protagonists of Atalanta's brilliant season.

The performance has been there for all to see: heavy goals, decisive assists and match-breaking tears. Lookman not only made an impact on the scoreboard, but also raised the level of the entire department.

At Inter, his graft would be a valuable asset. He would relieve Lautaro and Thuram from building tasks, allowing them to attack the penalty area more often. At the same time, he would offer solutions in the final third of the pitch and would guarantee the unpredictability that can make the difference in high-intensity matches.

Already coveted in Serie A, Lookman seems ready for an even more ambitious stage. His eventual arrival at Inter would be the natural completion of an exponential growth. The only real obstacle remains Atalanta's financial valuation, but from a technical point of view, the investment would have more than solid foundations.