After reluctantly waving goodbye to long-serving stalwart Sergej Milnkovic-Savic, Lazio are frantically searching for midfield reinforcements. According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Torino’s Samuele Ricci is not the only player on Claudio Lotito’s shortlist.
Dynamo Moscow’s hot prospect Arsen Zakharyan has drawn interest from Lazio. Despite his relatively young age, the 20-year-old is already an established Russian Premier League star. Last season, he amassed five goals and ten assists across 37 domestic appearances for Dynamo.
His contract in Moscow expires next summer. While the Russians remain hopeful of tying him down to a new deal, Zakharyan could leave his homeland soon. Aware of the midfielder’s contractual wobble, Lazio could test the waters amid their faltering pursuit of Ricci.
Lotito holds the 21-year-old Italian in high regard. However, Torino equally appreciate their youngster’s services. They have no intention of letting him go. Lazio remain persistent, but negotiations have yet to bear any fruit. They’ve recently lodged a formal proposal to acquire the ex-Empoli man.
However, they’re increasingly unlikely to talk up Torino to give up their highly-rated prodigy. Therefore, they must take other options into consideration.
Zakharyan could be a viable alternative if they fail to make a breakthrough in talks for Ricci. With Russian clubs banned from European football, Lazio could use Champions League qualification as leverage to lure the Krylia Sovetov Samara youth academy graduate to Rome.
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