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Atalanta are increasingly confident of retaining Ademola Lookman amid speculation that Arsenal and Liverpool were considering making bids.
The 26-year-old has endured a nomadic career having been billed as a potential superstar after he made an eye-catching breakthrough with Charlton as a teenager.
A move to Everton soon followed but he failed to make the grade at Goodison Park and subsequently joined RB Leipzig permanently following a successful loan spell.
Lookman impressed sporadically with the Bundesliga side and was farmed out to Fulham and Leicester where he again demonstrated flashes of his early potential.
Having represented at youth level, Lookman pledged his international allegiances to Nigeria but it is with Atalanta where he has flourished, scoring 24 goal in 62 Serie A games.
Lookman enjoyed the crowning moment of his career to date in last season’s Europa League final when he scored his first ever career hat-trick to seal a win against Bayer Leverkusen.
His scintillating form was, according to Alfredo Pedulla, said to have prompted interest from Arsenal who are still scouring the market for a winger capable of providing cover and competition for Bukayo Saka.
Fabrizio, Romano, however, reports that Liverpool and Arsenal’s reported interest is wide of the mark and Atalanta believe they are capable of convincing the player to commit his future to the club.
The Gunners, meanwhile, are closing in on the signing of Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad and are also believed to have a deal in place to sign his compatriot Joan Garcia from Espanyol.
Garcia would become the understudy to David Raya, assuming Aaron Ramsdale is able to engineer a move away from the Emirates.
Eddie Nketiah is also heading towards the Arsenal exit door with Nottingham Forest close to agreeing a £30 million deal to sign the England international striker.
Arsenal’s transfer kitty could yet be further boosted by the departure of Reiss Nelson who is wanted by Leicester, although his wages could provide a stumbling block.
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