Brendan Rodgers has admitted how close he came to signing Ademola Lookman during his first spell as Celtic manager.
Now a starter at Atalanta, the Italian forward was on Rodgers’ radar when he was a young talent at Charlton Athletic.
Lookman’s Early Rise and Missed Opportunity
Widespread interest from European clubs followed Lookman’s breakthrough at Charlton, with Celtic among those keen on the young talent.
The former Liverpool manager met the winger in London and was hopeful of completing the deal. However, Charlton demanded a higher fee, and the Scottish champions were eventually priced out.
When asked how close he came to signing the 27-year-old for Celtic, Rodgers said, “How close? Very close in the sense that he was genuinely excited about the Celtic project.
I met with him in a London hotel, and we were trying to convince him to join. Unfortunately, we just couldn’t meet Charlton’s asking price for him.
“But the club did everything within its power at that time. He was at Charlton and eager to make the move to a big club. He wasn’t deterred by the usual pressures that might affect a player considering Celtic.” he said as quoted The National.
Later, Lookman joined Everton in 2017 for around £11 million, putting an end to Celtic’s hopes of bringing him to Scotland.
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Reunited at Leicester City
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Rodgers missed out on Lookman at Celtic but eventually signed the winger on loan to Leicester City on a season-long deal in 2021.
Under Rodgers, Lookman flourished at the King Power Stadium, scoring a number of vital goals, including a memorable effort against Liverpool.
Lookman’s professionalism was something Rodgers praised, with the winger always working on improving the use of both feet after training sessions had finished.
Admiration for Lookman’s Journey
Lookman has made Rodgers proud of his career progression, including his eagerness to embrace challenges abroad.
The Nigerian international’s successful spells at Red Bull Leipzig and Atalanta, where he became a fan favorite, only added to his reputation.
Lookman’s rise was discussed by Rodgers, who reflected on his hard work and dedication in the game, which culminated into notable achievements such as a hat trick in a Europa League final.
