Ian Wright urges Arsenal to sign Premier League flop with ‘unfinished business’

Ademola Lookman is on a number of teams’ radar this summer after an impressive three-year stint with Atalanta, including Premier League giants Arsenal despite struggling in English football previously

Ian Wright has urged Arsenal to sign Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman this summer, stating that the Nigerian has “unfinished business” in the Premier League. Lookman came through the Charlton Athletic academy before going on to have unremarkable spells at Everton, Fulham and Leicester as a youngster.

Now 27, he has spent the past three seasons with Serie A overachievers Atalanta, where his performances have caught the eye. Lookman has 52 goals and 25 assists in 118 appearances for the Bergamo outfit, including a career-best 20 goals and seven assists this season to help them qualify for the Champions League.

Lookman was famously instrumental in Atalanta’s historic Europa League triumph in 2023/24, where he scored a hat-trick to hand Bayer Leverkusen their only defeat of the entire season. His stellar form also led to him winning the African Footballer of the Year award last year.

With Premier League runners up Arsenal understood to be in search of a left winger this summer, Gunners legend Wright named Lookman as a player he would like to see at the Emirates Stadium next season.

The former striker was asked about some of his favourite moments of the season on his Wrighty’s House podcast earlier this month. He said: “I’m going to go with Ademola Lookman winning the African Player of the Year in respects of that man’s journey.

“I remember him from Charlton, it didn’t work out [the] £10million [move] to Everton, then moving all over the place, the journey from loan to this. Then I think that’s one of the most devastating performances I’ve seen in any final with that hat-trick he scored.

“You know, it’s just… I can’t help but look at his dark moment where it would have been dark for him. You know, especially all those loans, going to another country.

“And you know what? He never had no problem [sic] going wherever he needed to go to find it. And then obviously, like you say, you find your place. Like Scott McTominay’s found that, he [Lookman] found with Atalanta.

“I hope we can buy him, Arsenal. I would love someone like him to come back to the Premier League and say, ‘Listen, I have unfinished business here so I am going to help Arsenal win the league.’

“But I just admire his journey and now he’s recognised rightly as a top player, unbelievable.”

Lookman, who can play as a second striker or as a winger on either flank, was reported in February by Fabrizio Romano to be set to leave Atalanta in the summer transfer window.

The news emerged after the player was publicly slammed as “one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen” by his own recently departed manager, Gian Piero Gasperini, for missing a penalty in Atalanta’s Champions League exit, despite having scored a goal seconds after coming on as a substitute.

Sky Germany reported on May 3 that Arsenal have added Lookman to their shortlist of potential attacking signings.

However, Mikel Arteta may have to fend off some competition for the Super Eagles star, as Catalunya Radio last week reported that he has been targeted by Barcelona. It is claimed Hansi Flick admires his profile, believing Lookman to be a great fit for his system.

Atalanta are said to value him at more than €40m (£33.69m) but the La Liga champions feel he can be signed for around €30m (£25.26m).

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