With just over a week remaining in the transfer window, Arsenal are yet to strengthen their forward line despite links to a lot of players.
Right now, Arsenal are not short of numbers upfront, but Eddie Nketiah now looks set to join Nottingham Forest, and Reiss Nelson could still leave.
Arsenal scored a lot last season, but at times they lacked a game-changing attacker, and aside from Gabriel Martinelli, also lacked speed.
Another option to occasionally rotate with Bukayo Saka would also be welcomed, meaning a winger who could play on both sides would be the ideal signing at the end of the window, and a new target has now emerged.
Reports in Italy claim Arsenal are prepared to pay a big fee to sign Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman, and fans will be well aware of what he is capable of.
How did Arsenal target Ademola Lookman end up at Atalanta?
Lookman previously had spells in the Premier League after developing at Charlton. Everton picked him up as a promising teenager, but he was in and out of the first team, and eventually headed on loan to RB Leipzig, in a move which was made permanent.
He then returned to England with Fulham a year later on loan, and then moved to Leicester a year after that on another temporary spell, before he was then sold to Atalanta in 2022.
The 26-year-old made 96 appearances in the Premier League, scoring 11 and assisting six times, but with the caveat that he was subject to constant move and was often in chaotic squads battling relegation.
Despite this, Lookman did impress at times, with Ian Wright particularly delighted by a performance in a comeback victory for Everton against Watford.
Ademola Lookman’s rejuvenation at Atalanta
Since joining Atalanta, the Nigerian forward has thrived. He has scored 32 times, and provided 18 assists in 79 appearances for Gian Piero Gasperini’s side, and his best moment will go down in history.
Granit Xhaka’s Bayer Leverkusen were unbeaten in 52 games in all competitions heading into the Europa League final last season, but they had no answer for Lookman, who scored an outstanding hattrick to win Atalanta their first European trophy.
Lookman became the first player to ever score a hattrick in a Europa League final, with his devastating speed ripping Leverkusen to shreds.
Ademola Lookman could follow the path of Mohamed Salah if he joins Arsenal
Lookman is now 26, and entering his prime years as he eyes up a return to the Premier League. Some Arsenal fans may question such a move given his previous struggles at times in England, but they only need look at how Liverpool unlocked Mohamed Salah.
Salah suffered a failed stint in England with Chelsea before moving to Serie A, first with Fiorentina, then with Roma.
In 81 Serie A appearances, Salah scored 34 times and provided 22 assists, in a record not dissimilar from Lookman’s. Lookman also helped his side win a trophy, which Salah could not before joining Liverpool.
Salah was 25 when he moved to Liverpool, and Jurgen Klopp highlighted at the time that his previous experience could be beneficial.
“Mohamed has the perfect mix of experience and potential – this is a really exciting signing for us,” Klopp stated when Salah joined.
“He knows the Premier League, he has pedigree in the Champions League and he is one of the most important players for his country.
“His record in Italy has been outstanding and he possesses qualities that will enhance our team and squad.”
If Lookman joins Arsenal, it would be easy to see why the comparisons with Salah can be made, with the winger following several other Mikel Arteta signings in arriving with a mixture of previous experience and the potential to improve.
Salah had played for five different clubs before joining Liverpool, whilst Atalanta is also Lookman’s sixth club in his senior career. Once Salah was able to settle at a top-quality side, he exploded into a truly world-class winger, and if Lookman does join Arsenal, he will aim to follow his example.
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