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Johnny Edward
Leicester City manager, Brendan Rodgers, is disappointed not retaining Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Lookman spent last year on a season loan deal at Leicester, scoring eight goals in 42 appearances for the Foxes, but Rodgers’ side could not sign the winger permanently due to his €15m valuation by parent club RB Leipzig.
The 24-year-old, who joined Atalanta on a five-year deal last week, is seen as a player who can provide competition for Harvey Barnes on the left side of attack and was one of the transfers Rodgers wanted as part of a healthy shake-up.
Asked if City would be make signings before the end of the transfer window, Rodgers said, “At this moment in time, I would say no. That was the frustration for us, that with Barnes out, we didn’t have a direct replacement.
“I would have loved to have signed Ademola (Lookman) who was great here last season and got over 10 goals and assists but we weren’t able to do that. Unfortunately that means we then have to look at the squad and the team and try to adapt, and then put them out to be as best organised as they can be.”
Lookman joined Charlton Athletic’s academy in 2014 and made a rapid rise through the ranks before his first-team debut in November 2015.
Over two seasons, he went on to feature 49 times in all competitions for the Addicks, scoring 12 goals, before signing for Everton on a four-and-a-half-year deal in January 2017.
He scored four goals in 48 appearances for the Toffees, before enjoying a brief loan spell with RB Leipzig in the 2017-18 season which led to a permanent five-year deal in July 2019.
He also spent the 2020/21 season on loan at Fulham, scoring four goals in 35 appearances, but was unable to save them from relegation from the Premier League.