Fulham bid rejected as Udinese talk up Arthur Atta’s value ahead of summer

Fulham’s interest in Arthur Atta has prompted an eye-catching reaction in Italy, with a senior Udinese figure suggesting the midfielder has the potential to reach the level of Zinedine Zidane or Jude Bellingham.

The comparison came after Fulham submitted a formal bid for the 22-year-old earlier this week — an approach that has been swiftly dismissed but has clearly helped amplify the player’s growing reputation.

According to Messaggero Veneto, Fulham lodged a €20m offer for Arthur Atta, only for it to be deemed insufficient by Udinese.

The Italian side have been consistent in their messaging: Atta is not for sale during the January window. However, reports in Italy have also stressed that a summer exit remains a realistic scenario — something Fulham may yet revisit.

Udinese technical director Gianluca Nani addressed the situation in an interview with DAZN, responding directly to Fulham’s interest while lavishing praise on the French midfielder.

“We don’t consider the offer we received for Atta to be a significant one, even though we always have the utmost respect for anyone who offers us money,” Nani said. “We have no intention of selling Atta.”

It was Nani’s assessment of the player’s ceiling that raised eyebrows.

“He has the potential to become Jude Bellingham or Zinedine Zidane,” he added.

“He’s a great professional… We’re not planning on selling him; we’ll see later, but he’ll certainly finish the season with us.”

Despite the firm public stance, the messaging aligns with previous reports from Tuttomercatoweb in November, which suggested Udinese see Atta as a prime asset for a future sale rather than an untouchable figure.

The club signed the midfielder for around €8m in 2024 and are widely expected to seek a substantial profit. While an exact valuation has not been set, the rejection of Fulham’s €20m bid suggests Udinese believe the market could stretch significantly higher by the summer.

From Fulham’s perspective, the early move may have been as much about positioning as it was about immediacy — making their interest clear before competition intensifies.

Atta is expected to finish the season with Udinese, but his name is likely to resurface once the summer window opens. Fulham’s early interest could give them an advantage, though bold public comparisons may only serve to inflate both expectations and price.

Much will depend on how Atta’s development continues over the coming months — and how crowded the market becomes once Udinese formally open the door to negotiations.

Is Arthur Atta genuinely a future elite midfielder — or is this another case of Italian hype driving up a summer price tag?