English Premier League clubs Liverpool and Manchester United are set to slug it out for Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman this summer, Soccernet.ng reports.
Lookman has been impressive at Atalanta since he joined two seasons ago. The Nigeria international has registered 32 goals and 18 assists in 78 appearances for La Dea.
However, he raised eyebrows after his superb end to last season, when he scored a hattrick for Atalanta to help them to a resounding 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Europa League final.
Recently, there have been talks that Lookman is eyeing a return to the English Premier League, two years after he left Leicester City. And in a new development, per Caught Offside, Manchester United and Liverpool are interested in signing Lookman this summer.
Liverpool are looking to add to their firepower going into next season with new coach Arne Slot. Meanwhile, Manchester United do not have enough quality on the wings, and Lookman could add a lot to the team with his experience and talent.
Lookman is valued at €40 million according to Transfermarkt. But Atalanta could demand up to €51 million for the deal to happen.
Should Lookman choose Liverpool or Manchester United?
Lookman already has Premier League experience and would be a good addition to any team he joins. But Liverpool and Manchester United are both in delicate situations. Slot just took over at Anfield and is under pressure to perform as well as Jurgen Klopp did.
Also, Manchester United are desperate to start churning out the results after a disappointing campaign that saw them finish eighth.
If Lookman joins Liverpool, he would get stability- something he has experienced in his career. The former Everton man had hardly spent more than two consecutive seasons at any club. But if he joins Liverpool, he could stay there for a while.
The downside to the Liverpool deal is that Lookman's playing time will be reduced drastically because the Reds have a stocked squad.
On the other hand, the 26-year-old could enjoy playing time at Manchester United because of the inconsistencies of players like Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho. But United are also quite inconsistent at the moment, and the club has witnessed a lot of failed transfers in recent years. If Lookman does not have a great first season, things could easily go south.
Lookman has to carefully consider what both teams are bring to the table before he decides his next move. Staying at Atalanta for another season could also be a good option. But in the end, the allure of playing for a big Premier League club could turn Lookman's head.
