The summer transfer window may have closed, but the strategic planning for January is already well underway at top clubs, and Tottenham Hotspur appears to be positioning itself for a move that could represent one of the bargains of the season.
According to reports, manager Thomas Frank is quietly confident about finally securing a deal for Ademola Lookman, the dynamic Atalanta forward and reigning African Player of the Year, after the club hesitated to meet his valuation during the summer window.
Lookman was a name that surfaced on deadline day, with Tottenham making inquiries about the possibility of bringing him to North London.
At the time, Atalanta were open to a sale, setting an asking price of around £43 million for a player coming off the back of a spectacular individual season where he scored 20 goals and provided seven assists.
However, under the previous leadership of Daniel Levy, no formal bid was ever submitted, a decision that now looks like a potential blunder given the player’s quality and the dramatically reduced fee that could now be available.
The situation at Atalanta has shifted significantly since September. Lookman’s attempt to force a move away led to him being temporarily frozen out of the first-team setup, training separately from the squad under new manager Ivan Juric.
This period of estrangement, combined with the player’s clear desire for a new challenge, is expected to drive his price down considerably.
It is believed that an offer in the region of £20 million could now be enough to persuade the Italian club to part ways with their star man in January—less than half of what they demanded just a few weeks ago.
For Thomas Frank, this represents an incredible opportunity to add a proven, game-changing talent to his attacking options without breaking the bank.
Frank is said to be a huge admirer of Lookman’s versatility, explosive pace, and eye for goal, seeing him as an ideal fit for the high-intensity system he is implementing at Tottenham.
The Nigerian international can operate across the front line, offering cover and competition for the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Randal Kolo Muani.
However, Tottenham will not have a clear run at the player. Italian giants Juventus are also monitoring the situation closely. With their own star striker, Dusan Vlahovic, likely to depart at the end of the season, Juventus see Lookman as a prime candidate to lead their attack as they push for the Serie A title.
This sets the stage for a potential transfer battle between two clubs with very different appeals: one offering a return to the Premier League and a key role in an exciting project, the other providing the chance to become the main man at a historic club competing for domestic supremacy.
For Tottenham, securing Lookman for £20 million would be a masterstroke of opportunistic dealing.
It would allow them to allocate significant funds to other areas of the squad while adding a player who is not only at the peak of his powers but also possesses the winning mentality and big-game experience they crave. As the January window draws closer, this is a situation that
