Nicolò Casale has become one of the most sought-after defenders in Serie A. Lazio’s intention of bolstering their backline has hit a roadblock in recent weeks, as main target Alessio Romagnoli has appeared on the radars of foreign clubs, including Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Fulham, The Daily Mail reports. Nonetheless, the Biancocelesti have not stopped dead in their tracks and instead have shortlisted the Hellas Verona youngster to arrive at the Stadio Olimpico.
However, even that path seems blurry at the moment, given the fact that southern giants Napoli have opened talk with Verona for the starlet. According to Tuttomercatoweb, the Partenopei are looking to hijack the Lazio and Monza’s effort to lure the 24-year-old center-back.
#Calciomercato I @sscnapoli, primo sondaggio con l'@HellasVeronaFC per Nicolò #Casale https://t.co/A96Wf0NCZV
— Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) June 25, 2022
Newly-promoted Monza, who will play their first Serie A season in their 109-year history, have been active in the market and have already made advances for Casale, offering €10M as a first bid – a price Napoli do not intend to offer, according to Tuttomercatoweb. Instead, Partenopei executives Aurelio de Laurentiis and Cristiano Giuntoli want to lower the transfer fee.
Casale was ever-close to joining Lazio in the January transfer window, but talks between the two parties have stalled in recent weeks in similar fashion to the Romagnoli scenario. He is contracted to the Gialloblù until the summer of 2026, and registered 37 appearances for them last season.