Atalanta are hellbent on their €50 million (£43 million) asking price for Nigerian attacker Ademola Lookman, even as Serie A rivals Inter Milan look to seal the deal before Arsenal can join the race.

The 27-year-old Lookman was heavily linked to Arsenal ahead of the arrival of Noni Madueke from Chelsea. The Premier League team’s search for a clinical striker is expected to come to a close with the arrival of Viktor Gyökeres, but Mikel Arteta will still need reinforcements in the attacking division. A proven scorer who is effective on the wings as well, Lookman is still on Arteta’s list alongside Eberechi Eze of Crystal Palace. He also boasts Premier League experience, having spent two years at Everton between 2017 and 2019. While Madueke can operate on the right wing, Lookman can manage affairs on the left with Gyökeres operating as a classic number nine.

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Inter Milan, meanwhile, dreams of combining the African attacker with captain Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram under new manager Christian Chivu. Lookman’s availability, who managed 15 league goals last season, will make it possible for the team to toggle between 3-4-2-1 and 4-3-3 styles as the situation demands. He tops Inter’s target list, followed by Loïs Openda of Leipzig, Eliesse Ben Seghir of Monaco, and Christopher Nkunku of Chelsea, Corriere dello Sport said in a report.

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Lookman’s transfer amount is central to Atalanta’s plans for next season, and they are unlikely to reduce the asking price from €50 million. Arsenal is financially better off than the Serie A runner-ups, but it needs to be seen if Lookman will be open to a move back to England.