Ademola Lookman: Atalanta Europa League hero is Mbappe’s perfect partner at Real Madrid

Robin Bairner

• 23 May 2024 08:10 BST
• 4 min read

Ademola Lookman hit the headlines on Wednesday for a blistering performance as Atalanta picked apart previously undefeated Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin to win the Europa League.

While Atalanta were superior to Xabi Alonso’s side all over the field, with was Lookman who provided them with the crucial cutting edge that guided La Dea to the trophy with three stunning finishes.

Now 26 years old, he has come a long way from the forward who managed only one Premier League goal for Everton in three seasons before being sold to RB Leipzig in 2019.

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Current ETV

Ademola Lookman

AM (CRL)

Atalanta

Ademola Lookman

AM (CRL)

Atalanta

€17.4M

ETV Range

€13M - €21.7M

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Although he also struggled to make an impact at the Bundesliga side, Atalanta identified his talent and in 2022 he made a €15 million switch to the Serie A side.

After his Europa League heroics, though, he will find himself in the transfer spotlight again.

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Real Madrid is his perfect destination, according to data analytics firm SciSports. Using its Career Advice tool, Los Blancos come up with a superb Club Fit score of 89, which is based on several factors ranging from potential development and playing time to formation and style.

Madrid score well in each category and are, in fact, the only team better suited to him than Atalanta, who score 88, the algorithm reveals.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side score five stars in terms of the player’s development and hit four in the other main categories.

Liverpool, meanwhile, rank third for the striker, earning a very credible mark of 82.

Lookman to Real Madrid: How likely is a transfer?

Real Madrid have already moved to sign Kylian Mbappe from PSG this summer, a deal that is not yet official but is inevitable, but by adding Lookman to their ranks they would suddenly have strength and depth in the centre-forward role.

A switch for the Nigeria international is unlikely, though. Madrid are targeting other areas of their squad for improvement, and with Lookman’s Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) around the €30m mark, their budget is earmarked for other positions.

His age counts against him, too. Although Lookman is only 26, Real Madrid are currently prioritising younger talent when making transfers. Think Jude Bellingham, Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga.

Nevertheless, Lookman is a tantalising possibility, particularly after proving he can thrive on the big stage – a quality Real Madrid are known to love.