Tottenham snapped up Ademola Lookman in January, who is now tearing through La Liga
While Tottenham find themselves in the middle of a fight for Premier League survival, the ghost from the January transfer window has returned to haunt them.
Ademola Lookman, who is of Nigerian origin and has become a target for Atletico Madrid, was reportedly offered several times by Spurs last month, but the North London club turned down the chance to sign him.
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Tottenham have turned down the chance to sign Ademola Lookman
Spurs were strongly linked with a move for the former Atalanta star, holding a long-standing interest in the attacker.
And they had the chance to sign him, not once but twice, with the latest being in January when they were given the chance to sign him.
But according to the Sun, Tottenham boss have rejected the 28-year-old despite a “crippling” injury crisis that decimated Thomas Frank’s side in January.
Lookman eventually completed a £30 million deadline day move from Atalanta to the Spanish capital, and his impact was nothing short of explosive.
Lookman’s immediate impact at Atletico Madrid
The Super Eagles star has scored four goals in his first six games for Diego Simeone’s team.
His moment to shine came two weeks ago, when he terrorized Barcelona’s defense in a 4-0 demolition in the Copa del Rey.
Lookman opened his club account with a clinical strike and turned provider for Julián Álvarez, leaving many at the Metropolitano wondering how a player of his caliber remained available until the final hours of the window.
| The club | Appearance | Goals | It helps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atalanta BC | 137 | 55 | 27 |
| Charlton Athletic | 49 | 12 | 3 |
| Everton FC | 48 | 4 | 2 |
| Leicester City | 42 | 8 | 5 |
| Fulham FC | 35 | 4 | 4 |
| RB Leipzig | 24 | 5 | 4 |
| Atlético de Madrid | 7 | 4 | 2 |
| Everton FC U21 | 2 | 2 | – |
Statistics of Ademola Lookman at various clubs via Transfermarkt
Asked about Spurs’ decision to withdraw Lookman
The decision to withdraw Lookman looks even more puzzling as Spurs have lost nine first-team players to injury in January alone.
Director of football Johan Lange recently defended the club’s quiet window, saying they must remain “disciplined” to avoid signing “quick fixes.”
Lange argued that with a stacked team coming back from injury, any newcomer should be “the best player now and in the future.”
Ironically, Lookman, who turned 28 in October, doesn’t seem to fit that long-term profile, yet he has been the best of all the in-form strikers currently in Spurs’ squad.
Instead of the Nigerian, Spurs opted for Conor Gallagher and young defender Souza, leaving many fans questioning why the proven goalscorer was not prioritized during the relegation battle.
While Tottenham’s players have struggled for consistency, Lookman’s striking form in Spain suggests he has been the kind of spark Spurs need.
For a team currently sitting in 16th place, the decision to ignore a player who has humbled Barcelona could go down as the costliest mistake of their season.
