The Bosnian, tracked by several European clubs including AC Milan and AS Roma, is valued by Bayer Leverkusen at around €30million, a fee that is not straightforward for Atalanta given their other business this summer.
The player has already given his approval for a possible move to Bergamo, seen as a potential launchpad for his career in the way it has been for several others before him, though it remains to be seen whether Leverkusen will sanction a sale.
A lower-cost alternative exists in Saint-Etienne winger Zurko Davitashvili, the Georgian having scored 16 goals and added five assists in all competitions last season, albeit in Ligue 2, with the French club having failed to secure an immediate return to the top flight.
Atalanta also have departures to manage on the flanks, with Daniel Maldini attracting interest from Cagliari and Parma, while the situation surrounding Sulemana Kamaldeen remains to be resolved.
In midfield, Atalanta's plans have shifted with Ederson's move to Manchester United potentially collapsing when the Brazilian failed to complete his medical, despite the two clubs having an agreement worth €45million plus €3million in bonuses in place.
According to Fabrizio Romano, United no longer consider the midfielder fully suitable, while other reports suggest the near-simultaneous completion of Andrey Santos's move also could play a part in the decision.
Nicolas Raskin, who impressed again in Belgium's World Cup quarter-final defeat to Spain, Switzerland's Ardon Jashari and Lazio's Nicolo Rovella, a player well known to head coach Sarri from their time together in Rome, all remain under consideration as potential midfield additions.
With Ederson now set to be reintegrated into the squad rather than sold, Atalanta look more likely to add just one further piece to Sarri's three-man midfield than to pursue a larger overhaul, particularly with United having already turned their attention to Roma's Manu Kone, valued at around €50million, as an alternative target. Atalanta will continue to field offers for Ederson in the region of €45-50million regardless.