Inspired by their first top-four finish in Serie A since 2019/20, Lazio are warming up for a busy summer, looking to assemble a squad capable of competing on multiple fronts. According to renowned journalist Alfredo Pedulla, the Biancocelesti have reached out to Hellas Verona to sound out a move for teenage prodigy Cyril Ngonge.
Maurizio Sarri demands a reward for his impressive effort to guide Lazio back to Europe’s elite club competition. Despite securing a runner-up finish against the odds last season, he knows his team would use several reinforcements to stay competitive, with an exhausting campaign waiting around the corner.
Keen to address the shortcomings, Sarri has set his sights on Ngonge, who took Serie A by storm in his first season in Italy. The 23-year-old forward left Groningen to team up with Verona last January and has since had a significant take in the club’s last-ditch effort to ensure top-flight survival.
He scored three goals in 14 appearances during the regular league campaign but excelled when Verona needed him most. Ngonge’s first-half brace helped Marco Zaffaroni’s side see off Spezia 3-1 in a relegation playoff, winning over the Marc’Antonio Bentegodi faithful. However, he could soon be on the move again.
Lazio would ideally want to acquire Domenico Berardi’s services. But convincing Sassuolo to renounce their headline performer seems like a Herculean task. Instead, they may have to look for alternatives, including Ngonge, who’d command a substantially lower price tag.
Unlike Berardi, the Belgian winger is not an established Serie A star yet, although he has the potential to become one. Known for spotting the value in the market, Lazio entertain the prospect of taking him to the Stadio Olimpico to increase their attacking options amid the uncertainty surrounding Pedro’s future.
Though Lazio are said to be readying a contract extension for their aging star, time’s running out, meaning they have to prepare for different scenarios. If Ngone’s early days in Serie A are anything to go by, he could soon become one of the most wanted properties. So grabbing him at this stage could prove a massive hit for Sarri’s team.
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