The deal is concluded: with Lucca remaining in Naples, the first incoming target for the attack becomes Oyarzabal. Samardzic is also in the sights. Got Pedraza for June
Here is the move that uncorks the Lazio market and opens up scenarios that were unthinkable until not long ago. It’s practically done (all that’s missing is the official announcement, expected in the next few hours) for the transfer of Taty Castellanos to West Ham. Lazio will collect 30 million, a figure which, in addition to settling the budget (the capital gain will be 20 million), will allow the Roman club to finance the purchases to be made in the winter transfer session which starts today. With two objectives to achieve: the arrival of a new center forward and a quality midfielder.
three days
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Castellanos should fly to London today to sign the contract that will tie him to West Ham. The salary should be around 3 million (at Lazio he took around 2). Instead, 30 million will go to the Biancoceleste club. Permanent transfer, without bonus. However, 10 percent (3 million) will go to New York City, the club from which Lazio had purchased him in the summer of 2023 for 15 million. The Roman club then sold him for double, realizing a capital gain of around 20 million (blood for the club’s budget in view of next summer). It was a real lightning operation, put together and completed within three days. West Ham needed to replace Fullkrug as soon as possible, having moved to Milan, and decided to do so with Lazio’s Argentine striker. An initial offer of around 25 million was rejected by Formello, then yesterday morning the right one arrived, for 30 million, and thus a rapid closure was achieved. Also because Castellanos immediately gave his consent to the sale. He didn’t want to return to South America (Flamengo and River Plate had looked for him). He preferred to stay in Europe and, if he had been able to choose, precisely in the Premier League where he will now actually go. His experience with the Biancoceleste ended after two and a half years, with 98 games played and 22 goals. He had to live with Immobile’s shadow, a situation that severely penalized him, and he never fully bonded with Sarri. That’s why he doesn’t mind leaving.
samardzic and Oyarzabal
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Now Lazio has a little treasure to invest. And he will therefore be able to satisfy Sarri who asked for a center forward and a midfielder to strengthen the squad. At the top of the list are the Atalantanian Samardzic as a midfielder and the Spaniard Oyarzabal as a striker. These are not simple operations, also because they are both expensive. But the Roman club will try. Samardzic’s valuation is around 20 million, Atalanta is willing to sell him, but will not make any discounts, even if they are willing to accept the onerous loan formula with mandatory redemption. Alternatively there is the Bologna player Fabbian, who has the advantage of being an Italian under 23 (he would not be counted in the extended labor cost). More difficult, if not impossible, is AC Milan player Loftus-Cheek, Sarri’s old obsession (he coached him at Chelsea). As for the center forward, it should be noted that yesterday Lazio also made a survey for Raspadori, whose purchase by Roma is now in the home stretch. The path that leads to Lucca has also become more complicated because Napoli no longer seems willing to sell him, given Lukaku’s still precarious condition. And then the name of Mikel Oyarzabal of Real Sociedad came back into fashion. He costs 25 million and is the type of striker that Sarri likes, who not surprisingly had reported him to his managers for quite some time. It remains to be seen whether his club is willing to sell him. The next few days will be decisive.
pedraza
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Meanwhile, Lazio have closed for Villarreal left back Alfonso Pedraza. Spagnolo, 29 years old, the winger’s contract expires in June, so Lazio have blocked him for next summer, when he will join the Biancoceleste club on a five-season contract. It is not excluded, but it is very difficult, that the operation will be brought forward to this winter session. Lazio will make an attempt, to see if Villarreal will be satisfied with a reasonable sum given that they would then lose him for zero in the summer or if they will instead close a significant sum. In the latter case Lazio will give up. However, the situation relating to Pedraza is also linked to what could concern Nuno Tavares. The Portuguese full-back is on the way out. Sergio Conceicao’s Al-Ittihad has been courting him for some time, but the offer sent to Lazio (around 5 million) was not taken into consideration. There could be a relaunch from the Arab club, but there could also be news from Spain. In fact, Tavares seems to have ended up in the sights of Atletico Madrid. For now there has not yet been any direct contact, but something could happen in the next few days. Tavares’ departure would free up a place in the full-back sector and would push Lazio to try more insistently to bring forward the Pedraza operation. Which in any case is considered closed for June.
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