Newcastle United put on red alert as £42m star slaps in transfer request and Arne Slot shows class
The Magpies are ready to shop in the summer window as Italian top-flight star makes intentions clear
Newcastle United transfer target Ademola Lookman has told Atalanta that he will leave the Bergamo club at the end of the season.
As we reported on March 13, Newcastle – who have sent chief scout Steve Nickson over to Italy on numerous occasions – were told a £42million fee would be enough to release the ex-Everton man. A high profile and very public bust-up with boss Gian Piero Gasperini over a penalty miss is the reason why he has had enough of life at the Serie A club.
After putting in a transfer request the London-born star will be hoping that either Newcastle, Manchester United or Juventus follow up on their scouting missions this season. The second striker is keen on a return to the Premier League.
He has one year left on his deal with Atalanta with the Italian side able to extend that further by an extra season if they please but the public fallout with Gasperini means he is likely to be sold next summer.
The spat came when Lookman missed a penalty against Club Brugge before Gasperini labelled him one of the “worst penalty takers” he’d ever seen. Despite the tension, Lookman has continued to play, but the end seems nigh for the ex-Leicester man.
Lookman released a statement reading: “Being singled out in the manner I have been not only hurts but feels deeply disrespectful, not least because of the immense hard work and commitment I have always put in each and every day to help bring success to this club and to the incredible fans of Bergamo.”
