Serie A giants Lazio eye Nigerian midfielder Ayodele-Bashiru

Italian Serie A giants, Lazio have set sights on Oluwafisayo Ayodele-Bashiru, the midfielder for both the Super Eagles and Hatayspor, with a potential move in the summer.

Ayodele-Bashiru, formerly of Manchester City, has showcased solid form for the Turkish outfit this season, tallying seven goals and six assists in 35 appearances for Güneyin Yıldızı.

The 23-year-old, known for his attacking prowess and versatility in central midfield, has previously attracted interest from clubs like PSV Eindhoven and AC Milan. Now, Lazio has emerged as another contender in the race for his signature.

Hatayspor’s coach, Igor Tudor, has pinpointed the Nigerian as key to the team’s attack for the upcoming season and is eager to secure the transfer before the club’s pre-season preparations begin.

According to Turkish outlet Sports Digitale, Hatayspor is open to negotiating Ayodele-Bashiru’s departure, provided Lazio meets their £10 million valuation. The proposed deal may also include a future sell-on clause, potentially increasing the total transfer fee to £20 million.

While Lazio hopes to negotiate a lower fee, they are mindful of competing interest from other clubs, which could spark a bidding war for the talented midfielder.

Ayodele-Bashiru earned a call-up to the Super Eagles’ 25-man squad for the October International break, featuring in Nigeria’s 3-2 victory over Mozambique on October 16, 2023, at the Estádio Municipal de Albufeira.