A UK journalist, Dan Bardell, says Atalanta forward, Ademola Lookman, won’t be available for less than €40m if the Italian club will entertain any interest from West Ham United for the Nigerian, PRIMANEWS Sports Extra reports.
According to a report from The Mirror, the Atalanta forward is “under consideration” by the Hammers as a potential signing but Bardell suggests West Ham must lose key players to be able to afford Lookman.
The Nigerian scored a hat-trick in the Europa League final last Wednesday, a performance which made many teams sit up and take notice of the player whose market value is currently €30m but could go up to €40m during the summer transfer window.
This season, he has scored 10 goals plus seven assists in 30 Serie A games, across just 21 starts and an additional nine substitute appearances. In all competitions, he has 16 goals and nine assists in 44 games.
Speaking exclusively to West Ham Zone, Bardell said, “I think his value has gone up by about £10m. I just look at him and think is he the type of player that, unless someone is leaving like Bowen or Kudus, West Ham should prioritise.
“I wouldn’t envisage him being a move that happens. I wouldn’t think that his position is a priority, that type of player for West Ham because unless someone leaves they already have very good options in there.”
Another factor that could fuel West Ham’s interest in the player is the latest news surrounding Lucas Paqueta. If he is banned for a prolonged period, new coach Julen Lopetegui might have to bring in some attacking reinforcements for Kudus and Bowen, who would remain as the only players that can operate from the flanks.
The 26-year-old Lookman has played in the Premier League previously, featuring for Everton, Fulham and Leicester City. He signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Everton on January 5, 2017, for an undisclosed fee, reported as an initial £7.5m potentially rising to £11m with add-ons.
He played 36 matches for the Toffees across three seasons, scoring just one goal plus two assists before he was sold to Leipzig for €18.00m.
At Leipzig, he returned to the Premier League on loan with Fulham in 2020. There he scored four goals and four assists in 34 appearances. The following season, he was at Leicester on another loan spell where he scored six goals in 26 appearances.
