Atalanta have Brighton and Lyon strikers on shortlist to replace Retegui | OneFootball

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

VERONA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 08: Mateo Retegui of Atalanta celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Serie A match between Verona and Atalanta at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on February 08, 2025 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

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.

DUBLIN, IRELAND – MARCH 23: Evan Ferguson of Republic of Ireland celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League B/C Play-offs Second Leg match between Republic of Ireland and Bulgaria at Aviva Stadium on March 23, 2025 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

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.

DECINES-CHARPIEU, FRANCE – APRIL 10: Georges Mikautadze of Olympique Lyonnais during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg match between Olympique Lyonnais and Manchester United at OL Stadium on April 10, 2025 in Decines-Charpieu, France. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

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.