Arsenal are desperate to add a winger to Mikel Arteta’s squad this summer, and sporting director Andrea Berta is exploring multiple different options on the market.
Nico Williams was Arsenal’s priority target, although the Spaniard favours a move to Barcelona, and the Catalan giants are looking to enact a deal for him.
Meanwhile, Rodrygo is now deemed Arteta’s top target, and the Brazilian could make the switch if he pushes to leave Real Madrid this summer.
However, a potential deal for the 24-year-old is entirely dependent on his desire to depart the Bernabeu, and thus, Berta is weighing up alternatives.
Arsenal open talks with Ademola Lookman
Ademola Lookman has been on Arsenal’s radar for over a year now.
The Nigerian has enjoyed three exceptional seasons for Atalanta since leaving the Premier League, netting 52 goals for the Bergamo club.
Scoring 20 and registering six assists last season, Lookman was also nominated for the 2024 Ballon d’Or after scoring a hat-trick in the Europa League final last year.
Capable of playing off both sides, his eye for goal and versatility have attracted multiple potential suitors this summer, including Arsenal.
With a move for Rodrygo not developing quickly, the Gunners have held talks with Lookman about a prospective move to the Emirates, according to AFTV Media.
Given his importance to Atalanta, the Italian club would likely demand a substantial fee for the 27-year-old.
However, Lookman may be willing to push for a move to North London, with the promise of holding down the left-wing at a side looking to compete for the Premier League and Champions League surely an enticing proposition.
Arsenal would be repeating Shkodran Mustafi mistake with Ademola Lookman
While he has thrived since joining Atalanta, Lookman struggled to make a real impact in the Premier League previously for Everton, Fulham and Leicester City, scoring just 11 goals in 96 appearances in the English top flight.
It’s possible that the slower pace of Serie A suits his attributes, and that he’d struggle to readapt to the intensity of the Premier League.
Arsenal made a similar move back in 2016 for a player who had pedigree in Europe but had failed in the English game.
Shkodran Mustafi completed a blockbuster £35 million move from Valencia to Arsenal that year, after enjoying several impressive seasons in Spain and in Italy with Sampdoria before that.
Like Lookman, the German hadn’t made it in the Premier League in his younger years, failing to break into Everton’s side, making just one appearance for the Merseyside club.
Mustafi was dire for the Gunners in his four-and-a-half years at the club, struggling with the speed of English football and the physicality required to compete at the highest level in the Premier League.
There are certainly similarities in the two situations, and Arsenal should be careful when making a decision on Lookman.
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