Tottenham sealed one deadline day signing when taking Randal Kolo Muani on loan from PSG.
It was a deal that ensured Thomas Frank can embark on the 2025/26 campaign with three strikers to call upon in Dominic Solanke, Richarlison and the France international.
However, Tottenham also made a bid for another forward in Ademola Lookman – who continues to be exiled by Ivan Juric after failing to leave Atalanta during the summer.
Ademola Lookman dropped by Ivan Juric amid “unpleasant” situation
The Nigeria international released a public statement in August confirming his desire to leave Bergamo, and has been on strike at Atalanta too.
Fabrizio Romano revealed Tottenham saw a loan bid for Lookman fail on deadline day – which included an option to buy – while Bayern Munich and Inter Milan failed with offers too as Atalanta held firm on a €50m (£43m) asking price.
The expectation was that the Atalanta No.11 would refocus on the Serie A side, but Juric has now suggested in a press conference that the 27-year-old remains unsettled by the summer saga.
Atalanta News quote the Croatian as saying: “He won’t be called up (to face Lecce on Sunday).
“It’s an unpleasant and difficult situation, a real drag. What I feel as a coach is that we need other things: spirit, humility, hard work, a sense of belonging. Our players need to be like that and do better, take responsibility. I want a different sense of belonging. The club will continue like this.”
Lookman was a key man for Atalanta before he started to burn his bridges, scoring 20 goals in 40 appearances last season, while also providing seven assists.
The versatile attacker – who can play centrally or out wide – is contracted to Atalanta until June 2027.
What Ademola Lookman thought of a move to Tottenham
TBR Football understand Lookman was open to joining Spurs if the north Londoners had been able to agree a deal with Atalanta.
The exiled attacker was actually born in Wandsworth, so a move to N17 would signal a return to London for the Charlton academy graduate.
If Juric continues to leave Lookman out, the situation will presumably be revisited in the winter transfer window, especially if Spurs are struggling to score goals by that stage of the season.