Atlético de Madrid target Super Eagles star as Antoine Griezmann’s replacement

Eleven-time Spanish La Liga champions, Atlético de Madrid, are weighing up an offer for Super Eagles star, Ademola Lookman as they look to replace the ageing Antoine Griezmann, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 33-year-old Frenchman has been an integral part of the Diego Simeone side that made the Rojiblancos a force to be reckoned with in Spain and Europe for the last decade scoring 196 goals and providing 90 assists in 423 games.

Griezmann’s contract at the Wanda Metropolitano winds up in the summer of 2026, but there are rumours that he might leave for the Major League Soccer in America at the end of the 2024/2025 campaign.

Lookman Ademola of Nigeria during the World Cup Qualifiers match between Nigeria and Lesotho at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on November 16, 2023 in Uyo, Nigeria. [Photo Credit/ Imago].

Get Our Sports News First – Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!

According to Spanish outlet, Fichajes, Diego Simeone’s side are looking for an ideal replacement for Griezmann, and are ready to break the market in the summer.

The club’s board is working on the signing of a forward who not only fills the void left by the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner but a player who can also form a high-impact partnership with Julián Álvarez. The board have set forth a list including Lautaro Martinez, Alexandar Isak and Ademola Lookman.

UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 Ademola Lookman plays during the match between Atalanta BC and Real Madrid in Bergamo, Italy, on December 10, 2024, at Gewiss Stadium. [Photo Credit/ Imago].

Diego Simeone’s perfect replacement for Griezmann is Lautaro Martinez, as he looks to build a formidable Argentine connection in attack with Julain Alvarez.

However, the task is considered almost impossible as the striker is the main figure at Inter Milan and is also under contract at the San Siro until the summer of 2029.

Additionally, Martinez is prized at around €100m, a fee that might be considered overboard by Atletico, considering the cost they used in securing Joao Felix from Benfica six years ago.

Atalanta-Bayer Leverkusen/ Ademola Lookman. [Photo Credit/ Imago].

As per TransferFeed, the Atletico board consider Ademola Lookman as the most accessible option. The versatile Atalanta forward has scored 14 goals and provided seven assists in 27 games for La Dea this season, although he’s currently nursing a knee injury.

The 27-year-old’s contract with Atalanta runs out in the summer of 2026, although there’s an option to extend for another year. Lookman is currently valued at €55.m by Transfermarkt, and is a relatively cheaper option to Isak and Martinez.

Aleksandar Isak

Currently rated by many as the best striker in the world, the Swedish forward has scored 17 goals and provided five assists in 22 English Premier League games this season, and like Lautaro Martinez, will cost nothing less than €100m to exit the St. James Park this summer.

Alexander Isak 14 of Newcastle United runs into attack during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Newcastle United at Old Trafford, Manchester, England on 30 December 2024. [Photo Credit/ Imago].
Isak also has suitors in the English Premier League, most notably Chelsea and Arsenal, who are looking for a striker that can score a minimum of 20 league goals per season, as both sides look to compete for the league next campaign.

Ademola Lookman is yet to pen a new deal with Atalanta, and with just a year left on his contract, a move might be on the cards, but it is currently unknown if the former RB Leipzig forward will prefer a transfer to Spain.

 

Adefolahan Guerreiro

Adefolahan is a multilingual journalist and writer at Soccernet Nigeria. With a track record of involvement in College sports, Adefolahan is focused on crafting engaging football content and utilising his language skills and extensive sports knowledge to enhance content accessibility for a global audience. He has interviewed Nigerian stars like Finidi George, Junior Lokosa, and Abraham Onahi Ogbu.

Recent Posts

Manchester United to part ways with two stars as Osimhen links grow

Three-time UEFA Champions League winners, Manchester United, are considering parting ways with Alejandro Garnacho and… Read More

1 hour ago

No Copenhagen regrets for ex-Krasnodar star who rejected Russia for Nigeria’s Super Eagles

Despite a challenging spell at FC Copenhagen, Nigerian-Russian forward German Onugkha has no bitterness toward… Read More

2 hours ago

Raphael Onyedika: Nigeria star responds to Man City, AC Milan, PSG links amid Club Brugge exit rumours

Nigeria international Raphael Onyedika has reacted to growing speculation linking him with a potential move… Read More

2 hours ago

Atalanta vs Club Brugge: Gasperini banks on Ademola Lookman’s magic ahead of UCL second leg

Atalanta coach Gian Pero Gasperini is banking on Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman to lead… Read More

3 hours ago

Samuel Chukwueze: Top London club could sign Super Eagles star next summer

English Premier League club Tottenham could attempt to sign Super Eagles forward Samuel Chukwueze this… Read More

6 hours ago

Terem Moffi: Nigeria and OGC Nice forward returns to training after 8-month absence

OGC Nice forward Terem Moffi has returned to first-team training, 247 days after his last… Read More

6 hours ago