Football Today
·29 August 2023
Football Today
·29 August 2023
Lazio are on the brink of signing midfield target Matteo Guendouzi after exchanging documents with Marseille, claims Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
After recently agreeing a deal with the French outfit, the Biancocelesti have been working on personal terms, including sorting out the commission fee of Guendouzi’s agent.
They have finally received the green light from the former Arsenal star, who is expected to fly to Rome on Tuesday to undergo his medical tests.
The capital giants will pay an initial loan fee of €1 million, and a mandatory buy-option is set at €12m plus €5m in bonuses.
Following a lacklustre spell with the Gunners, the 24-year-old has come into his own with Les Phoceens, becoming a vital cog in their midfield.
However, he fell down the pecking order during the final few months of the last season under Igor Tudor, and his situation hasn’t improved under new head coach Marcelino.
Guendouzi subsequently opened the door for a move elsewhere where he can enjoy regular game time.
Several clubs were in contention for the Frenchman, but the Biancocelesti emerged victorious in the transfer race.
Lazio’s quest for a new midfielder proved to be ineffective after losing out on Djibril Sow, Arsen Zakharyan and Leandro Paredes, which led to a brief bust-up between manager Maurizio Sarri and club president Claudio Lotito.
Sarri will be relieved to secure the services of Guendouzi right at the end of the transfer window.
Guendouzi will join the long list of summer signings at Stadio Olimpico, which includes Valentin Castellanos, Gustav Isaksen, Luigi Sepe, Daichi Kamada, Nicolo Rovella, Luca Pellegrini, Diego Gonzalez and Matteo Cancellieri.
Sarri’s side have made a terrible start to the new season, losing their games against Lecce and Genoa.