Head coach of Napoli Antonio Conte is still interested in signing the reigning Africa player of the year Ademola Lookman from Atalanta despite the arrival of Noa Lang, OwnGoalNigeria.com understands.
Conte is keen on having at least two options in every role in the team and sees Lookman as someone who can push for a spot on the left side of the attack, regardless of who is currently occupying the role.
Atalanta are open to the exit of Lookman, but want a fee in excess of €50m for the 27 year old, who has just a year to run on his current deal with the Serie A side. That amount has so far kept suitors away from the Nigerian.
A scorer of double digits goals in three consecutive seasons, Lookman is also pushing for an exit but teams in his preferred destination of England, where Liverpool and Arsenal have been credited with an interest haven’t followed it up with a bid.
Although new coach of Atalanta Ivan Juric will like to keep Lookman, Napoli will tempt his resolve with a cash plus two players likely to be the duo of Cyril Ngonge and Giovanni Simeone in their bid to lower the valuation.
Reports in Italy say Conte will in the coming days meet with the player’s representative before formally approaching Atalanta with a bid for the man , who handed them the Europa League trophy with his hattrick in the UEFA Europa League 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen.
Daniel Martins
