Atalanta winger Kamaldeen Sulemana is at the center of a Serie A tug-of-war, with his future tied to Ademola Lookman’s potential move to Fenerbahçe.
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Roma and Napoli are set to go head-to-head on the transfer market over Kamaldeen Sulemana, with Atalanta holding the key to a deal that could hinge on Ademola Lookman’s future.
Once again, Lookman finds himself indirectly shaping Napoli’s plans. The Nigerian forward, long admired by the Azzurri, is now the subject of renewed and concrete interest from Fenerbahçe. Should the Turkish club succeed in prying him away from Bergamo in the coming days, Atalanta would likely be reluctant to part with Sulemana in the same window. If Lookman stays, however, the door could open for the Ghanaian winger’s departure — triggering a two-horse race between Napoli and Roma.
Sulemana, 23, is emerging as a serious target for Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna, who is looking to provide Antonio Conte with a dynamic wide attacker. But Napoli are not alone. Roma, under Gian Piero Gasperini, are also in the market for wingers suited to a three-man attacking line, and Sulemana fits the profile perfectly.
Both clubs have submitted similar proposals to Atalanta: a loan deal with an option to buy. For now, Bergamo is waiting — not only to evaluate the offers, but also to understand whether Lookman will indeed leave. Something is clearly moving along the Bergamo–Istanbul–Naples axis, and a response is expected within hours.
Sulemana joined Atalanta last summer from Southampton, where he had previously worked under Ivan Juric in the Premier League. His start in Serie A was promising, with two goals in his first five appearances — including one against Juventus at the Allianz Stadium — before his impact faded. Since then, he has featured more sporadically, offering flashes of his quality without fully establishing himself.
Still, his talent is not in doubt. At Southampton, Sulemana made 74 appearances and built a reputation as a fearless dribbler. During the 2024–25 Premier League season, he ranked third among his peers for successful take-ons. He has also gained experience in Ligue 1 with Rennes, adding to his tactical and technical maturity.
At Napoli, Sulemana would slot into the role currently occupied by Eljif Elmas, operating behind Rasmus Højlund with the freedom to drift inside, attack defenders one-on-one, and inject pace and unpredictability into the final third — exactly the kind of profile Conte is seeking.
Napoli, however, are keeping their options open. Alternative targets remain on the shortlist, including Alisson Santos of Sporting CP — whose interest was publicly confirmed by Manna before Napoli–Chelsea — and Armand Laurienté of Sassuolo. Financial constraints have limited the club’s room for maneuver, but not its determination to reinforce the attack.
The pieces are on the board, and the next move belongs to Atalanta. Whether Sulemana ends up in Naples or Rome may ultimately depend on what happens with Lookman — and how quickly the dominoes fall.
