Ademola Lookman is still looking to re-build his relationship with Atalanta supporters and the Nigerian’s future has taken another twist as La Dea are set to replace Ivan Juric with former Fiorentina boss, Raffaele Palladino.
Why Did Atalanta Sack Ivan Juric?
Atalanta are said to be moments away from parting ways with Ivan Juric, after La Dea suffered a crushing 3-0 defeat by Sassuolo in their latest Serie A outing.
This defeat extended Atalanta’s winless league run to seven matches, which has seen the Bergamo-based side drop down to 13th in the table with 13 points.
La Dea appointed Ivan Juric in June 2025 after long-term manager, Gian Piero Gasperini, decided to leave his post in Bergamo and begin a new challenge with Roma.
While Gasperini has turned Roma into title contenders this season, sitting second in Serie A, Juric struggled to have the impact that many were hoping for – losing the last two matches in the league.
Supporters managed to find some hope during La Dea’s latest Champions League fixture, as Atalanta beat Marseille 1-0 away from home and moved up to 16th in the UCL table.
However, these performances in Europe were not enough to distract from a hideous run in Serie A and also brought another piece of controversy as Juric was involved with a public dispute alongside Ademola Lookman.
The Nigerian international was frustrated after being substituted during Atalanta’s 1-0 win over Marseille, leading to an argument on the sidelines – where Juric gave Lookman a slight push in frustration.
Lookman’s future in Bergamo has been one of the biggest talking-point in Serie A since the Nigerian issued a public transfer request and refused to take part in any training sessions or pre-season friendlies just a few months ago.
Many expected the former Premier League star to move on in the summer window, but a move failed to materialize and Lookman was forced to return to the Gewiss Stadium.
Reports are suggesting that Raffaele Palladino will be selected to replace Juric as Atalanta boss and the Italian will have a key decision to make over Lookman’s future in 2026.
Will Raffaele Palladino Secure Lookman’s Future?
Raffaele Palladino has been out of action since May 2025, as the 41-year-old parted ways with Fiorentina after just under a year in charge.
His exit has now been brought to light once again as Palladino’s replacement, Stefano Pioli, was made surplus to requirements after a winless start in Serie A.
Pioli became the latest manager to face the sack in Italy this season, with Patrick Vieira losing his place in Genoa and being replaced by Daniele De Rossi.
Palladino oversaw 53 games with Fiorentina, winning 25, drawing 12 and losing 15, while guiding his side to sixth in Serie A – meaning La Viola could qualify for Europe once again.
However, Palladino decided to part move away from Florence towards the end of the 2024/25 campaign after a reported dispute with the clubs’ sporting director Daniele Prade.
Taking the reins in Bergamo will bring Palladino’s third job as a professional manager, being the head coach at Monza and Fiorentina previously.
The 41-year-old’s primary goal will be to turn around results in Serie A and climb up the table, as Atalanta have finished in the top five four three consecutive seasons.
Another factor that Palladino will need to consider is the inclusion of Ademola Lookman, as the Nigerian has been a vital player for La Dea, but is now looking to move on in 2026.
The 28-year-old scored 15 goals in Serie A last season but has struggled to meet expectations in the 2025/26 campaign, scoring just one goal in seven league appearances.
Lookman is clearly unsettled this year and Palladino will need to make a decision over his future – should he try and get the best out of Lookman or ease the Nigerian out of the side for an eventual departure next year?
Palladino has found success with a former Premier League star that faced major struggles, as Moise Kean scored 19 league goals for Fiorentina under the Italian.
This could act as a blueprint for Palladino’s approach to Lookman given his recent struggles, but Atalanta will be aware of heavy interest from the Premier League in January.
Could Ademola Lookman Move To Premier League?
Ademola Lookman was on the verge of joining Inter Milan during the summer transfer window, however, Atalanta’s asking price was too high for the Nerazzurri and the deal collapsed.
According to reports, Atalanta want to sell the Nigerian to a team outside of Serie A and this will impact the transfer fee greatly – as any Italian side will need to pay over €50 million.
However, La Dea would be willing to accept a lower bid if it is submitted by a team away from Italy and this could tempt multiple sides from England.
The Nigerian international made 96 appearances in England’s top-flight during his spells with Fulham, Leicester and Everton, but failed to make a a real impact.
Lookman’s performances in Italy mean that a return to the Premier League would now involved some of the biggest teams in England, as Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United have all shown interest in the 28-year-old.
The Gunners currently sit top of the Premier League after a superb start to the season and Mikel Arteta was said to be monitoring Lookman’s future in Bergamo during the recent summer window.
Arsenal are still on the hunt for a forward after failing to land a left-winger in the summer and Lookman may be available for a tempting fee in January due to his troubles in Italy.
