Maurizio Sarri has relied on brilliant playmakers throughout his career and has indicated Maxime Lopez as the ideal piece to add to his Lazio squad. The gaffer has made do with Lucas Leiva and Danilo Cataldi so far. However, he would like to sign a more technical player in the role in the summer, Corriere della Sera informs.
The 24-year-old has fully come into his own this season after the departure of Manuel Locatelli. He leads Serie A in passes (1911), more than Marcelo Brozovic and Fabian Ruiz, and has completed 90 percent of them. He has had an average of 73,5 touches per game.
Sassuolo bought out Maxime Lopez for just €2M in 2021, but it will not be easy for Lazio to acquire him. His price tag has ballooned up to €15-20M following an outstanding sophomore campaign in Italy. Moreover, the negotiations between the Neroverdi have generally been complex in the past. Plus, the Emilian side is under siege due to the interest in several of their youngsters. They are unlikely to part ways with multiple key pieces as they want to keep the squad competitive.
According to the publication, Sarri sees Cataldi as a backup, while Leiva will probably depart at the end of his expiring contract in June. On top of Maxime Lopez, Lazio are keen on Vitinha, Corriere dello Sport informs. The coaching staff was highly impressed with him in the two recent Europa League games. However, the Porto specialist is already in high demand and has a wealthy evaluation.