'Hopefully not in January' - Atalanta boss addresses future of Lookman after being tempted by PSG

Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini has commented on the future of Ademola Lookman who was heavily linked with a transfer to French Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain F.C. in the final month of the summer transfer window.

Lookman was spotted in Paris on Monday night attending the Ballon d'Or ceremony, but he left empty-handed after being ranked fourteenth out of the thirty candidates nominated.

The Nigeria international made history by becoming the first Atalanta player ever nominated for the world’s most prestigious individual award.

The Charlton Athletic academy product earned a nomination after starring in the Europa League final, where he netted a history hat-trick to inspire the Nerazzurri to a 3-0 rout of Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella's Bayer Leverkusen.

Given he was the only African player nominated for the Ballon d'Or and with the likes of Mohammed Kudus, Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen not in contention, Lookman is the bookies favorite to win the African Footballer of the Year.

Lookman had been linked with a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in August but the coach of the capital club, Luis Enrique chose to fill the gap left by Gonçalo Ramos' injury with players already on the team.

The 27-year-old did not participate in Atalanta's first three Serie A matches of the 2024-2025 season due to speculation surrounding his future. 

Gian Piero Gasperini is hoping that clubs won't revive their interest in Lookman once the January transfer window opens for business.

Speaking to Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport, via Europa Calcio, he said: "Lookman tempted in the summer by PSG? No, it was not a good moment. And who knows, maybe certain hypotheses will recur, hopefully not in January.

"But in the meantime, now, it is only important that he is 'inside' the team ."

Lookman has been on fire since the start of the season, registering ten goal involvements in ten all-competition appearances. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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