Lazio have come up empty-handed in their long chase of Filip Kostic. The player tried to force the move, but Eintracht Frankfurt stiffened up and refused their offers. The Biancocelesti did not insist on that front on deadline day. Instead, they executed their plan B and landed Mattia Zaccagni after some negotiations.
Lazio come to terms with Verona on a €7M fee plus €2M add-ons, Gianluca Di Marzio reported. They had some trouble reaching an agreement on his personal terms. President Claudio Lotito intervened directly after the early talks with his agent were unproductive. The attacker will earn €1.9M per season in the Italian Capital. He technically joined with the formula of a season-long loan with conditioned obligation to buy.
Zaccagni left Verona after six years. He totaled 146 appearances, 15 goals and 22 assists. He contributed to two promotions during his time with the Scaligeri. He is coming off his most productive season to date as he hit the net five times and set up five teammates in 2020-2021.
The Gialloblù did not put up a major resistance because Zaccagni had only a year left on his contract. He would have probably extended if he stayed put. However, the management promised him not to block a transfer to a bigger club this summer.
Verona replaced him with Gianluca Caprari. The Sampdoria forward had multiple offers, especially from Monza, but preferred reuniting with his former coach Eusebio Di Francesco, Quotidiano Nazionale reports. He put up decent numbers at Benevento last season despite the relegation.