Liverpool set sights on Ademola Lookman as Mohamed Salah’s potential replacement

Liverpool, who sees Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman as a likely replacement to Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah, has started talks about acquiring him this summer.
The Reds have reportedly made major moves to sign Ademola Lookman, a 27-year-old who has been in incredible form this season, scoring 17 goals and dishing out seven assists in just 29 games across all competitions, according to sources from Sky Sports Switzerland.
Arsenal has expressed interest in the current CAF Player of the Year, joining Liverpool in doing so. They haven’t, however, been as aggressive in their pursuit as Liverpool, who believe Lookman would be a perfect fit to cover the significant gap left if Salah leaves Anfield at the end of the current campaign.

A recent public spat with manager Gian Piero Gasperini has fueled speculation over Lookman’s future at Atalanta. The team became frustrated after Lookman missed a vital penalty in a Champions League match against Club Brugge, which led to this argument.

Top European clubs are reportedly keeping a close eye on Atalanta’s intentions to sell Ademola Lookman for approximately €65 million (£53.8 million).

Not only has Liverpool shown interest in signing him, but Newcastle United and Manchester United are also interested parties. According to TEAMtalk, Newcastle has already dispatched scouts to watch Lookman play because of his versatility, which enables him to succeed as a central striker as well as a winger.

Lookman has established himself as one of Serie A’s most formidable attackers since joining Atalanta from RB Leipzig in 2022. In 107 competitive games for La Dea, he has accumulated an incredible total of 49 goals and 23 assists.

When Lookman scored a historic hat-trick in Atalanta’s victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final last season, his reputation skyrocketed. He then guided Nigeria to the Africa Cup of Nations final, where he was recognized as the continent’s finest player in 2024.

Lookman started his Premier League career with Everton in 2017 and has subsequently played for Fulham and RB Leipzig. As Liverpool prepares for a possible future without their Egyptian superstar, his familiarity with the English football scene makes him an alluring choice.

With his contract set to end in 2025 and ongoing talks on fresh terms seeming to be at a standstill, Salah’s future remains uncertain. The prolific forward, who came close to joining Al-Ittihad last summer, is allegedly a target for Saudi Arabian clubs.

Lookman has become a leading contender for Liverpool’s backup plans, which are being aggressively developed by head coach Arne Slot and the club’s new sporting director Richard Hughes. He is a potentially priceless asset for the club’s future due to his demonstrated goal-scoring ability, adaptability in a variety of attacking areas, and experience under duress.