Former Aribo and Onuachu boss lauds Atalanta’s Lookman replacement

Ademola Lookman is set to leave Bergamo, but Inter Milan have to submit a bid worth Atalanta's asking fee…

Former Joe Aribo and Paul Onuachu head coach Ivan Juric has heaped praise on Atalanta's Ademola Lookman replacement, Soccernet.ng reports.

Inter Milan are keen on bringing the 2024 CAF Player of the Year to the San Siro and have seen two of their offers rejected by Atalanta, who are holding out for €50m.

Lookman, on the other hand, is keen on heading to Inter Milan after rejecting Napoli. The Nerazzuri are preparing a new bid, and the players' willingness to leave will play a huge role in bringing the deal to fruition.

Inter will meet with Lookman's and Atalanta's representatives today, in the hopes of finally securing a deal and ending what appears to be drawing into a long transfer saga.

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Atalanta's replacement for Ademola Lookman

Atalanta already have Lookman's replacement on their books in the person of Kamaldeen Sulemana.

The left winger joined La Dea from Southampton for €13m earlier this month. Instead of looking outside for other attackers, the Atalanta hierarchy are convinced the Ghanaian can follow in Lookman's steps.

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Sulemana has kicked off pre-season preparations with Ivan Juric's side, and the Croatian gaffer is pleased with what the 23-year-old has shown so far, although he's not quite the finished product yet.

“Sulemana has entered well, he is awake in accelerations and shots. He is a boy to be built, but he has a great desire to grow.

“In my opinion, he is a guy who needs to be developed. He is not a finished player,” the 49-year-old said in quotes revealed by PrimaBergamo.

In addition, the coach revealed his pre-season plans for the squad as they undergo hard tasks before the Serie A kicks off. Ademola Lookman has not been able to participate due to a calf problem.

“It’s a time when we work hard on physical preparation. There have been so many positive things in the expression; the goal is to keep things done well and try to add something.

“These two weeks have served to look at and analyse the behaviours, as they are, the body language, and then intervene well,” Juric concluded.

Juric took over from Russell Martin at the Southampton dugout, coaching Super Eagles stars like Joe Aribo and Paul Onuachu, but couldn't prevent the Saints from relegation.

Can Sulemena fill Lookman's shoes?

Lookman joined Atalanta in 2022 after a series of unsuccessful spells in England and Germany, and his sail steadied in Bergamo.

The Super Eagles star has gone on to be a world beater since then, winning the UEFA Europa League in grand style, reaching the AFCON final with the Super Eagles of Nigeria, taking home the CAF Player of the Year Award while claiming a place in the Ballon d'Or first 15 positions.

While he's set to join Inter Milan, his record with Atalanta is a testament to his growth. The former Leicester City attacker scored 52 goals and provided 25 assists in 118 games for the Nerazzuri.

Sulemana's path is similar, following unsuccessful spells at Stade Rennais and Southampton, where he scored four goals in 74 games, and Atalanta believe he can emulate what Lookman did at the Gewiss Stadium.