Agent expects Lookman to join marquee Euro club; reveals Okoli chose Leicester over Spanish, German teams

Alessandro Barison, the agent of Leicester City's Italian-born Nigerian central defender Caleb Okoli, has predicted that Ademola Lookman is likely to join a marquee European club next summer. 

Lookman’s breakout season in 2023-2024 saw him lead Atalanta to Europa League success and assist the Super Eagles in reaching the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final.

The 27-year-old was voted Atalanta's Player of the Season for the second consecutive year after registering twenty seven goal involvements (17 goals, 10 assists) in 45 matches across all competitions.

The Nigeria international was 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.

There were also rumours of a return to the Premier League and Bundesliga in the last transfer window, with West Ham United and Bayern Munich both credited with an interest but nothing came out of it. 

Sharing his thoughts on Lookman, who was teammates with his client Okoli at Atalanta, Barison told OKC: "I love him. I had the chance to meet him thanks to Okoli, and I can say that he is a very humble guy and next year he will be the winning card of the Atalanta market. 

"Not that the Goddess is any less, but I think that next year he could go and play for some big European team."

Barison revealed that Okoli had offers from teams in Germany, Spain, France and Italy in the summer transfer window but the centre-back prioritized a move to Leicester City, with whom he signed a five-year deal in July.

"His summer was quite eventful, because the boy had markets in Italy, France, Germany , Spain and England. 

"His dream was to go to the Premier League, this call from Leicester arrived through an intermediary and he didn't think twice. In five days the deal was closed and the clubs immediately reached an agreement."

Okoli has been named in Italy's squad for UEFA Nations League matches this month and is in line to play a cap-tying game for his country on birth against Belgium on Thursday night.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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