Atalanta have Brighton and Lyon strikers on shortlist to replace Retegui – Football Italia

Wednesday’s reports claim that Atalanta already have three players on their shortlist to replace the departing Mateo Retegui, including the Roma-linked Evan Ferguson and Georges Mikautadze from Lyon. 

Reports earlier on Wednesday confirmed that Atalanta have sealed a deal to sell Italy international Retegui to Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah for a whopping €67m after just one season with La Dea. 

Once the deal is made officially, Retegui will become the second-most expensive sale in Atalanta’s history, second only to Rasmus Hojlund, who joined Manchester United in a €75m deal in the summer of 2023. 

Three Atalanta options to replace Retegui

Atalanta’s imminent sale of Retegui leaves new head coach Ivan Juric in need of a new centre-forward to compete with Gianluca Scamacca for the start of the 2025-26 campaign. 

According to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio, Atalanta already have three centre-forwards in mind. 

Among them is Republic of Ireland international Evan Ferguson from Brighton and Hove Albion, who has also recently been linked with a loan move to join Roma, coincidentally coached by former Atalanta tactician Gian Piero Gasperini. 

Unlike Roma, La Dea will be in a position to offer Brighton a permanent deal for Ferguson after the €67m sale of Retegui goes through. 

Di Marzio adds that Lyon striker and Georgia international Georges Mikautadze is also a potential option for Juric this summer. 

The third possible scenario is the signing of Lorenzo Lucca, who for the majority of the transfer window thus far, has been linked with a move to join Antonio Conte’s Napoli.