Bayern Munich have made an approach to sign attacker Ademola Lookman from Atalanta.
The proposal for the 27-year-old is a loan, including a sizable fee, with an option to buy at a substantial price.
Lookman is exploring his options and remains set on leaving Atalanta as he looks to take an important next step in his career. He has been pursued by Inter Milan this summer but Atalanta do not want to part with him to another club in Italy.
The Athletic reported on Saturday that Chelsea had informed Bayern they will not be proceeding with a loan move for Nicolas Jackson, after they had previously agreed a deal for the forward.
Lookman started out in England at Charlton Athletic. He spent a few seasons showing promise but struggled to establish himself at Everton, RB Leipzig, Fulham, and Leicester City before joining Atalanta for around €10million in the summer of 2022. In Italy, he has established himself as one of Europe’s most dangerous forwards, particularly during the 2023-24 campaign where he registered 17 goals and 10 assists in 45 games.
Lookman crowned his season with a hat-trick in the 2024 Europa League final against a Bayer Leverkusen side who had just won the league and cup double and were on a 51-game unbeaten streak. The forward’s hat-trick helped his side to a 3-0 victory, a win that secured their first trophy in 61 years and the first European trophy in the Italian club’s history.
He finished 14th at last year’s men’s Ballon d’Or but expressed his sadness after being “singled out” for blame after Atalanta’s exit from the Champions League by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini in February, having missing a penalty against Club Brugge. Gasperini has since left Atalanta to replace Claudio Ranieri as Roma head coach.
Lookman scored 20 goals and provided seven assists in 40 games last season, helping Atalanta finish third in Serie A and qualify for the 2025-26 Champions League.