Ademola Lookman: Is Paris Saint-Germain the right choice for the Super Eagles forward?

Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman has been linked with a move to twelve-time French Champions, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Atalanta man scored 20 goals and provided nine assists for club and country last term, lifting the UEFA Europa League with Atalanta, alongside helping them to the Coppa Italia final. The 26-year-old also helped the Super Eagles reach the AFCON 2023 final in Ivory Coast.

After such a stellar season, and with the level he’s built his career to, it is widely expected that a move will be on the cards, sooner or later.

With an offer from PSG lurking in the corners, one can not help but wonder if a move to the French capital team will be best for Lookman.

What’s left to win with Atalanta?

Gian Piero Gasperini masterminded the Italian side to a brilliant 3-0 victory over Bayer 04 Leverkusen, which saw them win the UEFA Europa League last season.

The German side were unbeaten in 51 games before the Europa League final in Dublin, making the feat even more incredible. Under the Italian, Atalanta also reached the Coppa Italia final and were fourth in the League.

Atalanta looked to have over-achieved in the last campaign for a team without the financial prowess of Juventus and the two Milan-based clubs, but it most likely will be the peak of their history for a while.

While they were 4th in the league, Lookman’s side were a whopping twenty-five points behind Serie A winners, Inter Milan, meaning the title was a foregone conclusion for Inzaghi’s team, with barely any competition from any other team, and certainly not Atalanta.

In the transfer window, La Dea have shored up defensively, bringing in Ben Godfrey and Ibrahim Sulemana. In attack, they signed Charles De Ketelaere from AC Milan permanently. They brought in Italian forward, Mateo Retegui, after it was confirmed their starman, Gianluca Scammaca, could miss the entire season due to an ACL injury.

Despite these additions, Atalanta still look like a mid-table team that’ll occasionally challenge for European spots on paper, rather than reach for the stars. With two years left on Lookman’s contract, and with the drive to add more silverware to his personal cabinet, a move away from Bergamo isn’t far fetched.

Is Paris Saint-Germain the right choice?

Financially, a move to the French capital is a no-brainer for the former Everton winger. As earlier reported by Soccernet.ng, PSG’s proposed terms to Lookman will see his salary go from €1.8 million to €4.5 million a year. Despite the massive increase, the proposed wage will see Nigerians rank 22nd on the list of the club’s highest-paid players, according to Capology.

The financial package seems to be one of the pros, but one of the cons will be the system Luis Henrique plays and the playing time he’ll be subject to at Parc Des Princes.

French winger, Bradley Barcola, played 40 games for the Parisians last season, scoring six goals and providing nine assists. At just 21, the former Lyon man will want to do one better than his debut season.

Asides Barcola, PSG have signed another exciting left-wing talent, Désiré Doué from Stade Rennais and will want to ease the 19-year-old into the team before he becomes a regular for them.

Ademola Lookman plays as an inside forward, cutting in from the left wing to create chances and score goals, while Luis Henrique prefers his wingers as naturals. Should he move to PSG, he’ll face stiff competition from two other wingers in a system which might possibly see him struggle.

While the Paris club’s financial package is a tempting offer for Lookman, it might not be a risk worth taking, and waiting for a bid from another big club might be best.

With the AFCON 2025 tournament and the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the cusp, a dip in form or absence of playing time might cost him a spot in the Nigerian team as they look to get back on track in International competitions.

 

 

N.B: We want to know your thoughts. Should Lookman join PSG or wait for another big club? Let us know in the comments.