Gian Piero Gasperini is currently on the lookout for at least three new players to strengthen his squad. Recently, he welcomed the first addition: 20-year-old Brazilian winger Wesley Vinícius França Lima, commonly known as Wesley. The young star, who has been signed from Flamengo on a five-year deal, addresses one of the two wide positions that Gasperini needed to fill. The deal was finalized after negotiations saw Atalanta reach an agreement with the Brazilian club, which involved paying €16 million plus €4 million in bonuses instead of an initial proposal of €18 million with less achievable bonus conditions.
Wesley’s payment structure is broken down into three installments: €6 million within five days of signing, €4 million by October 30, and the remaining €6 million by August 2026. The bonuses include €1 million after 20 appearances, €1 million for any title won by Atalanta, €1 million for qualifying for the next Champions League, and another €1 million if they reach the knockout stage this season.
However, Gasperini is in urgent need of two more signings due to the current squad’s situation. Atalanta faced a challenging situation in their recent match in Warsaw, with only 14 available outfield players from the first team. This predicament may extend into the next two league games as well, leading to a pressing need for reinforcements.
One player Gasperini has targeted is Matt O’Riley, a versatile midfielder from Celtic. O’Riley would ideally fit into the role needed to replace Teun Koopmeiners, who is likely to transfer to Juventus. However, negotiations have stalled as Celtic is not under pressure to sell and has raised its asking price. Recent reports suggest that the Scot’s valuation has increased to €30 million plus €5 million in bonuses, which has left Atalanta hesitant to meet such demands.
Another concern is that O’Riley, who has expressed preference for a move to Atalanta, is growing frustrated with the stalled negotiations and may feel pressure from his current club, wanting to retain him for another season.
As a potential backup plan, Atalanta has been in talks regarding Lamar Samardzic, a 22-year-old midfielder with different qualities than O’Riley. Udinese is reportedly seeking between €20 million and €25 million for the Serbian, but Gasperini remains focused on securing the Danish midfielder.
In addition to the midfield position, Gasperini is also searching for a second winger, particularly following the withdrawal from Marc Pubill, who was preferred due to his versatility. One option could be Lutsharel Geertruida, a 24-year-old Dutch defender from Feyenoord, capable of playing both as a full-back and a center-back. However, his price is above €30 million, and Atalanta’s best offer so far has been €25 million, complicating matters given that Paris Saint-Germain is also interested in signing him.
Alternatively, Atalanta has considered Kevin Danso, a 25-year-old Austrian center-back from Lens, who also commands a valuation near €30 million but does not fit the team’s specific needs for a versatile player. They have also explored the potential of Pierre Kalulu, who is leaving Milan, although this option has not garnered strong interest. As Gasperini navigates these transfer challenges, the urgency for new arrivals continues to grow.