Ademola Lookman and Atalanta’s plans for the summer transfer window have been thrown into disarray following the serious injury suffered by striker Gianluca Scamacca.
The Italian forward, who had re-established himself as a potent force in Serie A with La Dea, ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in a pre-season friendly on Sunday.
The injury, which will sideline Scamacca for at least six months, has dealt a significant blow to Atalanta’s ambitions for the upcoming season. With the club set to compete in the Champions League, a competition they have craved for years, attacking options are paramount.
The timing of Scamacca’s injury could not have been worse for Atalanta. The club had reportedly been open to the idea of selling Lookman this summer, with a price tag of €70m placed on the Nigeria forward.
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Ademola Lookman had an impressive campaign with Atalanta last season, registering 17 goals and 10 assists in 45 appearances and posting key performances were key in Atalanta’s Europa League win, their second-place finish in the Copa Italia, and their fourth-place finish in the Serie A.
Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Al Ittihad, and Chelsea have all expressed an interest in Lookman this summer.
However, Scamacca’s absence has dramatically altered the landscape. Atalanta are now facing a shortage of attacking options, and the prospect of losing Lookman is no longer a viable one. The club will be desperate to retain the Nigerian, who has proved himself to be a vital component of their team.
Unless Atalanta can secure a replacement striker of comparable quality in the coming weeks, it is highly unlikely that Lookman will be allowed to leave.
The club’s priority must now be to strengthen their squad in other areas, while also exploring options to replace Scamacca’s goal-scoring threat.
