Arsenal prepare £30m move for Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman

Ademola Lookman scored 18 goals across all competitions this season, drawing concrete interest from Arsenal. Mikel Arteta values wide players who combine pace, dribbling precision, and positional fluidity — traits Lookman consistently demonstrated in both Serie A and European fixtures for Atalanta.

The interest was first reported by Sky Sport Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, who confirmed that Arsenal have been actively monitoring Lookman since the start of the year. The 27-year-old is viewed as a player who could strengthen Arsenal’s depth on both flanks while offering rotational options in more central attacking roles.

Lookman began his career in England with Charlton Athletic before moving to Everton and later RB Leipzig. However, it is at Atalanta under Gian Piero Gasperini that he has emerged as a high-impact forward, delivering consistent output and tactical versatility across multiple competitions.

There have been reports in the Italian press of tension between Lookman and Gasperini following a missed penalty in a Champions League fixture. While neither side has publicly commented on the matter, Tuttosport described their relationship as “visibly deteriorating,” adding fuel to speculation of a summer exit.

According to The Times, Atalanta would consider offers in the region of £30 million for Lookman. The club is under no financial pressure to sell and is expected to entertain only serious proposals. Lookman remains under contract until 2027, and any deal will require a fee aligned with his growing impact in Bergamo.

Manchester United and Juventus are also understood to be monitoring his situation. Both clubs are seeking to add pace and unpredictability in the final third, though no formal offers have been submitted as of yet.

A final decision on Lookman’s future is expected in July. For Arsenal, Lookman offers a profile that combines tactical maturity with positional flexibility. He fits naturally into Mikel Arteta’s high-tempo, possession-oriented system — stretching defences, excelling in transitions, and unlocking low-block opposition in tightly contested matches. His ability to operate effectively against both open and deep-lying teams underlines his status as a multidimensional attacking threat.