According to several sources in Italy, Nigeria’s Ballon d’Or nominee Ademola Lookman is reluctant to sign contracts extension with Italian club Atalanta despite attempts to lure the Super Eagles striker with new deal, SMI reports.

The undisputed frontrunner for the African Player of the year award after he was placed 14th in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings is enjoying best of his career in Serie A with several top European clubs interested in his service.

But 2023/2024 UEFA Europa League winners, Atalanta, are looking for ways to keep their star player away from tempting move by slamming €50m price tag on the forward who has had a stunning start to the season with eight goals and five assists in 14 appearances across all competitions.

A source from Italy told SMI that Lookman will rejects the proposed contract extension for a possible move to one of the European giants club in the summer.

Lookman has had a stellar year. He’s gone from reaching the AFCON 2023 final with Nigeria, to reaching the Coppa Italia final with his club side and then scored a hat-trick to seal the UEFA Europa League triumph for Atalanta.

Chelsea-linked Victor Osimhen is not planning on moving away from loan side Galatasaray mid-season, despite previous talk surrounding a break clause in his deal with the Turkish club. The in-demand striker signed a season-long loan with Galatasaray from Italian outfit Napoli this summer.

That move came after Chelsea attempted to make a late push for Osimhen on deadline day, but were unable to complete a transfer. It left the frontman not playing for Napoli and in search of a new club.

With the Turkish window remaining open, at that juncture, Galatasaray pushed through a loan deal. It’s, however, been widely reported that the deal could be cut short should one of 10 teams meet the star’s reported £63million release clause when January rolls around.

Given their interest in the summer, there has been talk that Chelsea could potentially reignite the push when the January transfer window opens. It now, however, seems that the player has eyes on remaining at Galatasaray.

Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has reported that Osimhen ‘isn’t planning’ to leave mid-season and that ‘talks’ have taken place about a permanent move – with the player suggesting that staying is an ‘option’.

There is, though, a stumbling block in Napoli’s asking price. The Italian club want a fee of £62.7million (€75million) in the summer window, which would make a move ‘almost impossible’ for Galatasaray.

Osimhen has quickly established himself as a fans’ favourite in Istanbul so far this season. In his nine matches, in all competitions, he has scored eight goals and provided four assists.

The Nigerian has scored a brace in his last two appearances – including two goals in the 3-2 Europa League victory over Tottenham. He also scored for Nigeria during the international break in the 1-1 draw against Benin on Thursday.

Chelsea are continuing to be linked with a move for Victor Osimhen as the January transfer window moves ever closer.

The Blues have been credited with an interest in signing Osimhen for several transfer windows and made an attempt to bring the striker to Stamford Bridge last summer.

Osimhen and Napoli decided to part ways earlier this year, which led to the striker eventually completing a loan move to Galatasaray.

As part of the deal, there is reported to be a break clause that could be activated if an offer is made during the January transfer window. However, only 10 clubs are rumoured to be on the list of teams that could activate the clause, with Chelsea said to be one of them.

The move to Galatasaray also saw Osimhen reportedly have his release clause lowered from more than £100million to around £62.5million. It remains to be seen, though, if Chelsea will look to try and sign the Nigeria international when the transfer window reopens in the New Year.

Since moving to Turkey, Osimhen has scored eight goals with four assists across nine appearances for Galatasaray and continues to be linked with a transfer to a new club in January, with Chelsea mentioned as a potential destination.

Should the Blues try to sign Osimhen in the New Year, there are several squad number options that could be given to the striker. Namely, the No.9 shirt is available to new signings, having previously been worn by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang until the end of the 2022/23 season.

There are several other options that Chelsea could choose to give Osimhen as his squad number should a move to Stamford Bridge happen.