RB Leipzig recruitment chief Paul Mitchell has revealed his club are keeping a close eye on Everton forward Ademola Lookman ahead of the January transfer window.
Speaking to the Sun, the Bundesliga club’s head of recruitment explained how Leipzig have great “affection” for the 21-year-old after his impressive loan spell in the second half of last season.
The German outfit were also strongly linked with a permanent summer move for Lookman but Everton fended off their advances.
Mitchell told the Sun: “It’s clear how much affection we have for Ademola and I think from the way he performed here, the environment we created for him and the platform we gave him, he also enjoyed his time here.
“And with a situation like that, we would always be open to revisiting, but you never know.
“At this moment he is an Everton player and he’s working with some really good people there.
“We know him and we will always keep a very close eye on his development because we see him as a Red Bull guy from his time here.
“But at the moment we just have to hope that he continues his progression as a footballer and let’s see what the future brings.”
OPINION
Leipzig’s interest in Lookman isn’t going to go away. The European big hitters, who are placed fifth in the Bundesliga table after nine matches, are renowned for their focus on rising rather than established stars in the transfer market. It was widely reported that they bid more than £20million for Lookman in the summer window, but did not meet the Merseyside club’s asking price for a permanent deal. A January transfer certainly should not be ruled out, after Mitchell shared his club’s latest position on the England Under-21 international. Lookman has failed to start a single one of Everton’s 10 league matches this season and, although he came off the bench in Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United, he has accumulated just 82 minutes of league action. With Theo Walcott, Richarlison and Bernard the first-choice forwards under Marco Silva, Lookman is still pressed with his nose up against the glass watching others in place. Expect a concerted bid from Leipzig to sign him in January if that doesn’t change.