Arsenal line up shock £43m Ademola Lookman swap transfer with Euro 2024 star heading to Serie A
ARSENAL are reportedly lining up a shock move to sign Ademola Lookman from Atalanta.
Lookman, 26, had an exceptional campaign for the Italian’s last season, registering 27 goal contributions in all competitions.
Arsenal continue their search for attacking reinforcements this summer as they try and close the gap on Pep Guardiola‘s dominant Manchester City side.
And according to Sportitalia, the Gunners think that Lookman could be the right man to add to their ranks in order to take them one step further in the league.
They claim that Arsenal are planning a £43m bid for the Nigerian international.
It’s also said that the north London club would be willing to throw out-of-favour defender Jakub Kiwior into the deal as a makeweight.
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Kiwior, who starred for Poland at Euro 2024, could switch to Atalanta permanently or head to the Serie A outfit on loan with a buy option included in his deal.
The centre-back has struggled for minutes since arriving at the Emirates in 2023, making just 11 league starts last term.
However, it’s reported that Atalanta are hoping to receive a fee of around £60m for Lookman, a price tag that could throw the swap deal into jeopardy.
Lookman has been linked with a switch to PSG this summer too, but there is yet to be any concrete offers submitted by the Parisians.
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While it’s suggested that Arsenal could face competition from Premier League rivals Liverpool, who are also said to be interested in signing Lookman before the fast-approaching transfer deadline.
Lookman is no stranger to England‘s top flight, making 96 Prem appearances across three different clubs so far in his carreer.
The versatile forward had spells with Everton, Fulham and Leicester in recent years.
However, it’s with Atalanta that he has had the most success so far – helping the Italians win the Europa League last season with a stunning hat-trick in the final.
The Charlton academy graduate currently has two years remaining on his deal with Atalanta and reportedly could be offered a new deal by the club’s chiefs to try and convince him to stay put.
Arsenal looked short of attacking options at times last season and are yet to make any acquisitions for the final third of the pitch this summer.
Mikel Arteta has reinforced his back line with the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori and the decision to permanently sign David Raya from Brentford.
While Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino appears to be edging ever closer to an Emirates switch.
As for outgoings, Hale End graduate Emile Smith Rowe made a permanent exit to London neighbours Fulham earlier this month.
And fellow academy star Eddie Nketiah looks likely to call time on his spell with the club in favour of a switch to Nottingham Forest.
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Ilkay Gundogan is closing in on a stunning return to Manchester City.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have announced the signing of Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix on a permanent deal.
Elsewhere, Liverpool are reportedly closing in on the £29.9m signing of Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
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