Atalanta head coach Ivan Juric has expressed confidence that Ademola Lookman is on track to rediscover his best form as the Nigerian forward returns from international duty.

The 27-year-old, who is also the reigning African Player of the Year, has endured a challenging start to the season, having yet to record a goal or assist for either club or country since returning to action last month.

According to Gossip News Now, Lookman’s summer at Bergamo was marred by transfer speculation, with Atalanta reportedly rejecting offers from Inter Milan, Tottenham Hotspur, and Bayern Munich. The situation reportedly left the winger frustrated, leading him to skip pre-season training and sit out the team’s opening four matches—a move that drew public criticism from Juric.

In recent weeks, however, the atmosphere around Lookman has improved. Juric has praised the player’s renewed focus and work ethic in training, though he admits there is still progress to be made.

“I hope he returns from international duty with the same attitude I’ve seen in the last two or three weeks,” Juric told Sport Mediaset via Football Italia. “He has shown great commitment and a positive mindset. I want us to make up for the time we lost over the summer. He’s not yet at his best, but his spirit is right, and that’s what matters most.”

Lookman is expected to be in contention for a starting spot when Atalanta take on Lazio in their upcoming Serie A clash on Sunday. However, competition for places in the attack has intensified, with Ghanaian winger Kamaldeen Sulemana making a strong impression since joining the club during the summer transfer window.