Osimhen getting his Nigerian teammate in January?

Galatasaray did something very important last Monday when they managed to stop the in-form Fenerbahçe away from home (1–1) and end their winning streak. The reigning Turkish champions thus remained at the top of the Super Lig table, and despite not winning the match (Fener scored in the 95th minute), everyone among the “Lions” is very satisfied with both the outcome and their overall results this season. That is why the Turkish media have been writing in recent days about what kind of reward coach Okan Buruk will receive in the January transfer window — allegedly in the form of one of Atalanta’s best players, Ademola Lookman.

Inter giving up on Lookman?

Almost all Turkish media report that a concrete offer has been sent to Bergamo. Now, with portals in this country and the information they publish, one should always be cautious, but two figures are constant — the Italian club would receive 50 million euros in transfer compensation, and the Nigerian forward a fixed annual salary of six million. However, the positive result in the Intercontinental Derby and the excellent Champions League performances (with Galatasaray close to securing a place in the knockout stage) are not the only reasons Lookman is being talked about so much these days. There is also his outstanding form over the past ten days, as the 28-year-old Nigerian, born in London, has been Atalanta’s best player in the last two matches. Last week in the Champions League he both scored and assisted in the 3–0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in Frankfurt, and then at the weekend he also found the net against Fiorentina (2–0) in the league.

Before those goals, the Italian media had written that Atalanta might allow Lookman to leave for around 55 million, but it is possible that his continued good form could push his price even higher. That is why there are grounds for Galatasaray’s management to react already now, even though there is almost a month left until the start of the transfer window. Lookman joined Atalanta from RB Leipzig in June of 2022 for just under 11 million euros, and his contract runs until June 2027. A major asset for the “Lions” is certainly their highest-paid player, Lookman’s teammate from the Nigerian national team, Victor Osimhen. The 26-year-old striker, who himself arrived in Turkey from Serie A, is expected to try to convince the former star of Everton, RB Leipzig, Fulham and Leicester to join him in Istanbul.

SERIE A ROUND 14

Saturday

17.00: (2.90) Sassuolo (3.30) Fiorentina (2.65)

20.00: (1.55) Inter (4.10) Como (6.25)

22.45: (5.30) Verona (3.60) Atalanta (1.70)

Sunday

14.30: (2.45) Cremonese (3.00) Lecce (3.30)

17.00: (5.60) Cagliari (3.60) Roma (1.75)

20.00: (2.65) Lazio (3.05) Bologna (3.05)

22.45: (2.40) Napoli (3.05) Juventus (3.55)

Monday

17.00: (2.45) Pisa (3.00) Parma (3.30)

20.00: (2.45) Udinese (3.00) Genoa (3.30)

22.45: (4.40) Torino (3.50) Milan (1.85)

* odds are subject to change