“Wanted him at Celtic” – Lee Congerton makes shock transfer claims over elite Super Eagles star

The Nigeria international has experience playing in England, Germany, and Italy but it has emerged that he could have gone to Scotland as well

Atalanta Chief Scout Lee Congerton has claimed he was close to taking Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman to Celtic.

Parading an impressive CV, Lee Congerton was an assistant manager at Liverpool, technical director at Hamburger SV and Sunderland, and Chief Scout at Chelsea, Celtic, and Leicester City.

While Congerton was at Celtic between 2017 and 2019, Lookman was on the payroll of Everton. The former England youth international spent a year on loan at Leipzig before permanently signing for the German Bundesliga campaigners for €18 million in 2019.

Congerton admits he is a long-time admirer of Lookman and he wanted to bring the winger to Celtic at some point around that period. 

The two are now working together at Atalanta after Congerton was able to persuade the Nigerian international to move to Italy when calling time on his spell at Leipzig.

Lookman has been one of the revelations of the season in the Italian Serie A, contributing 12 goals and five assists in 21 appearances.

Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini credited Congerton with the success of Lookman's transfer but the Welshman insists the Super Eagles winger is the one who should be praised for choosing Atalanta.

What has been said? 

“Gasperini says I'm the secret of Lookman's arrival? I was pleased,” Congerton said (via Area Napoli). “But I don't like taking all the credit, because it's always thanks to everyone and therefore to the club.

“I already wanted him at Celtic, Ademola. Of course, I've known him well, since he was a kid. But he's also the one who chose us, and he made the right choice.

“Then he's a splendid boy and deserves everything he's getting. I hope it continues like this, with goals and assists, with high-level performances. I wish it for him and the good of Atalanta.”

Lookman continued his splendid form for Atalanta at the weekend when he provided an assist to help the Goddess record a fine 2-0 away win at rivals Lazio.